Jonathan Papelbon is never going to forget the moment he stepped into life as a member of the Red Sox organization.

"Just like when we won the World Series in ‘07, we popped a bunch of champagne," the former fourth-round pick told WEEI.com's Alex Speier in August. "I was renting a house, so I didn’t care about the damage."

Now, more than eight years after losing his $250 security deposit, sitting on the cusp of free agency for the first time, Papelbon still hasn't lost his appreciation for living the life of a Red Sox. The 219 saves and 2.33 ERA he put up in 414 total games in the organization's uniform might lead him elsewhere in the coming months, but that doesn't mean he's forgetting.

It was a gratitude Papelbon wanted to make sure Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein understood, even with the reliever's time in Boston potentially in the rear-view mirror.

"I told Theo the day I was leaving and packing up that I wanted to thank him for giving me the opportunity to come into this game and draft me as a Boston Red Sox," the closer said. "I don't think he realized to me how important that was. It wasn't about the money. It was about getting drafted as a Boston Red Sox because I came into this world, this major league world, and learned the Red Sox way of baseball. You know, Trot Nixon, Kevin Millar, Johnny Damon, Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield, Mike Timlin, Curt Schilling. That's how I learned how to play the game of baseball and learned how to survive and compete and handle everything that comes with the big league life. I felt like Theo gave me the opportunity to come in as a Red Sox and learn that. I don't think I could have learned the way of Major League Baseball any better.

"I told [Epstein], 'You know what? That meant a lot to me to be able to have that chance and that opportunity to come in and learn it in this clubhouse. Learn the game of baseball in this clubhouse.' And I told him, too, I said, 'You know what? I want you to know that I get it.' I feel I truly do understand both sides. I understand his side. I understand my side. I said, 'Listen man, if you ever need anything, I'm here for you whether I'm going to be back here or whether I'm not going to be back here.'"

But, even with all the affection towards the Red Sox, Papelbon is ready for the brave new world that is free agency (for which he will be eligible five days after the World Series).

The 30-year-old has long talked of potentially getting to this point, dating back to when he sacrificed the semi-sure payday that would have come with living the life of a starting pitcher to remain in the sometimes volatile existence of a closer in 2007.

The goal was to follow in the footsteps of the man Papelbon routinely referred to as 'The Godfather,' Mariano Rivera, and continue to set a standard for all closers -- both on and off the field. And in most respects, the Sox pitcher did his part.

He set a record by not allowing a run in his first 25 postseason innings, which included a span of 16 appearances from 2005-08. And in his six years as a closer -- the longest run at the position of any player in Red Sox history -- he totaled the third-most saves in the major leagues (219), trailing only Francisco Rodriguez and Rivera.

Financially, Papelbon set the bar to a certain extent, as well. In each of his three arbitration-eligible seasons, he came away with one-year deals that were above and beyond what any pitcher at each stage had managed. In '09 it was for $6.25 million. A year later the number was $9.35 million. And last offseason he agreed to $12 million.

Now?

"It really truly isn't all about the money. It's just not," he said from his Mississippi home. "I'm going to a place where I know I'm going to succeed. I'm going to a place where I know I have a chance to win a championship. I'm going to a place where I know that my family is going to be safe, my family is going to like the environment, and everything else that goes along with off-field stuff. That's what I'm looking at.

"If it was all about the money I would have said starting six years ago. If it was all about the money, I would have stayed starting, gone out, pitched my six innings, got a quality start and called it a day. For me it's more about going to a place I can thrive, have fun and enjoy what I'm doing, and win. That's it really."

Papelbon, who still hasn't talked contract with the Red Sox, is heading into free agency at an interesting time. He is coming off one of his best seasons, carrying perhaps the best repertoire of pitches he has possessed as a big leaguer. And, even with the market potentially featuring at least a few viable closers (Heath Bell, Ryan Madson, Rodriguez), the goal set by the Sox righty in spring training ("When the season is all said and done this year, I want to be the No. 1 guy coming out, no question," he told WEEI.com in spring training) is in his sights.

The days of the five-year deal afforded former closer B.J. Ryan may be a thing of the past. And the age of the four-year contract for game-enders might have taken another turn after Joe Nathan did nothing to dissuade the perception of a closer's shelf life after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the third season of his four-year deal, repeating the history of Billy Wagner in the third year of his four-year contract with the Mets.

Still, Papelbon's plan seems to still be in fairly good shape.

And even though Papelbon and the Red Sox did talk about multi-year deals throughout the past few offseasons, none was tempting enough to lead the pitcher away from the opportunity he now enjoys. It's a destination he is entering into with peace of mind, and a healthy dose of satisfaction -- in more ways than one.

"Yeah, I'm very excited," he said. "But I don't think it's all about getting to this point. I really don't. I don't think it's about, I said no to this deal and that deal, or I didn't get any deals that I like so screw these guys, and I'm trying to get to free agency as fast as I can to get out of here. Because that's totally not the way it was. It just really wasn't.

"My six full seasons, as far as off-the-field side of things, were the easiest they could have been. I don't think they could have been any easier. The front office with Theo and those guys, I always said, 'This is where I'm at,' and this is where they are at (regarding contract offers). Hey, that's fine. They were like, 'That's fine Pap. Let's get it done and let's go kick some ass this season.' That's the way it was for six seasons. I can honestly tell you that it was extremely easy for both sides. It's business, man. I don't think that you can do a full-time, multi-million dollar business without getting heated up. That happens. And I think Theo knows that, and I think myself realizing that, it made things completely easy. I really do."