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Sensitivity, Retirement and New Year's Resolutions

Get Over It

Mr. W.
Retired
Thu Jan 5, 2006 9:16 AM

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To those who think that it's insensitive to mention that you may work until you die: You have two choices: do something about it or get over it. This sensitivity thing is not what America was built on. Grow up!

Re: Get Over It

PDS
GSA
Thu Jan 5, 2006 9:44 AM
Well said and right on target!Truth is sometimes a bitter pill to swallow but there it is anyway!A word to the wise you best find a way to put some bucks away while you still can!

Re: Get Over It

Engineering Technician/CWO4(ret)
VHA
Thu Jan 5, 2006 9:46 AM
This PC bull needs tobe disposed of and WE all need to return to being as productive as possible.....I realize I am "antagonizing" some federal workers, but those who are productive etc, know it and please ignore this. We all know many deadbeats, slackers, or whatever, but until manaement/supervision starts giving EVERYBODY honest,fair, objective, and impartial evaluations, there is going to be these types. Most people do not want to put the ime & effort into getting to understand(learn) how to get ahead then discipline themselves/family to do it. Anyone can stand outside and "throw rocks, but very few can/will work from within an org. to really improve the org. w/o being self-serving. time to jump off my soapbox! please ignore my many "typos".

fedsmith articles

Consultant
retired
Thu Jan 5, 2006 9:18 AM

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I worked at FPMI as a consultant when Ralph Smith was there and enjoyed seeing that company grow and prosper while I earned extra income during retirement. He sometimes looks at a situation differently and has a creativity that comes across in his articles. It gives those of use in the federal community a different viewpoint that may not be "politically correct" and on topics that some larger publicatinos won't go near but the point of view is interesting and fun to read and shows a knowledge of the federal workplace. Feel free to keep up the "politically incorrect" observations; perhpas we will all learn something from daring to be different.

Re: fedsmith articles

PDS
GSA
Thu Jan 5, 2006 9:46 AM
finally a new and refreshing insite to a sensitive and important issue!Keep up the good work Bud!

Re: fedsmith articles

HR Specialist
DOI
Thu Jan 5, 2006 10:17 AM
I enjoy the ability to post comments and see what people are saying about an issue. Robbie K...'s article was good and the author even took the time to respond to questions and comments from readers--a good addtiona to the site.

I also like the fact thaat fedsmith also includes comments from readers that are not always positive. It gives the site more credibility than just publishing the good ones!

Re: fedsmith articles

General Engineer
DOT
Mon Jan 9, 2006 3:46 PM
Just don't totally ignore now as well. Have fun in life while you can and plan strategically for the future. You can successfully do both. If you do not take of yourself now, you may be a millionaire when you retire and drop dead the next day.

Comments re: Retirement

Thorn in the Side
DOD
Thu Jan 5, 2006 10:10 AM

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I don't think readers objected to the statement that some people may not ever be able to retire; we all already know that. What offended people was the way in which it was said. Some people shoot themselves in the foot, and then other people just plain have bad luck. And sometimes luck is just that, luck. People who claim "You make your own luck" usually just enjoy feeling self-righteous. One time I asked one of them, "Well, if you're born into a family with a teenage mother and a drunken father, how did you MAKE that luck?" She said, "Well, that's something you can't do anything about." And that's exactly what luck is - the things you can't do something about. Some of it can be limited in impact IF you know it's likely to come along; but you can't always. Suppose you lived in Hiroshima when the bomb went off!

Re: Comments re: Retirement

HR Specialist
Fed Agency
Thu Jan 5, 2006 10:28 AM
While your statement may be partly true, it must be noted that you can make your own luck. The fact that you're born into a family with a teenage mother and a drunken father, does not have to mean that you can't make something of yourself. I come from a large family, my father worked 3 jobs to keep the family going, and all of us have made a life for ourselves in some shape or form. While others may have gotten further than others in the family, it was by choice. We are the keepers of our own destiny -- we are what we make of ourselves. Life is not about handouts and we live in a country where we can all be something. While I feel for those who don't have a family background which encourages one to succeed, it is obvious that there are ways to rise above -- look for mentors at school and in the community to help. There are many people out there willing to help.

Re: Comments re: Retirement

law enforcement
FS
Thu Jan 5, 2006 12:40 PM
Well, I wasn't born in Hiroshima but I WAS with drunken, broke parents and as bad as THAT "luck" was, I did what you need to do, I evaluated my sistuation, looked at my options, and DID something to change it. It was not an easy road and there were plenty of obstacles but you just keep evaluating and making choices. It's not "luck" that put me to work for the Government, it was something I strove for. Part of the reason related to the very things the author talked about. I couldn't afford to put away anything extra during most of my career because I was also raising children, but I always managed to add something. Being able to face my retirement with joy and relief doesn't have anything to do with luck. It was all planning and striving and re-evaluating, in spite of drunken broke parents. The Hiroshima point is well-taken. That was unfortunate luck. My point is, MOST of the time, we can find a way to get ourselves out of the hole and on our feet.....even it's without $$$ shoes.

Re: Comments re: Retirement

operations assistant
DOD
Fri Jan 6, 2006 6:02 PM
Some make their luck. Some get hit with health disasters. Some made a bad choice early on, (obvious or not so obvious,) and spent the rest of their lives trying to do the best they could after the fact. "There but for the Grace of God," and all that.

Reasons matter less than dealing with and accepting realities. Knowing that 15 years into a marriage my (now) ex did some incredibly stupid things that blew our retirement planning outta the water was not my fault, but I still have to accept that I will work far later in life than I originally hoped and at a lower grade.

I just get tired of those who assume I must have screwed up or spent my assets foolishly and are smug and self-satisfied that they made their own luck.

Sensitivity, Retirement, & New Year's Resolutions

Supv. Contract Specialist
IRS
Thu Jan 5, 2006 11:36 AM

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I retired from military service in 1986 with nothing in the bank. Nine months later I accepted a temporary limited appointment with the Feds. I converted to career conditional four months later, and as soon as I was eligible (six months after that) I started contributing to TSP. The first 1.5 years I limited my contribution to 5%, just enough to get the Government's match. Finally, in June 1989, the lights went on and I went for the full 10%. A year later I met the woman I eventually married. She had a pretty good municipal job, and her employer had a deferred compensation plan (equivalent to a 401(k) or TSP), but she had never contributed to it. It took about a week to convince her that she should, and she has ever since. We will retire together, in two years, with a pile of cash. The message here: It's not whether you can afford to save, it's whether you can afford not to save. It may mean a change in life style now, but that will be nothing compared to the alternative.

Sensitivity & Retirement

Clinical Analyst
Dept of Veterans Affairs
Thu Jan 5, 2006 12:03 PM

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Don't sugar coat it! I've been telling subordinates and peer for years to put the max they can into the TSP for as long as they can and learn to live on what's left. Some listen but most don't. The TSP is the best thing going for a FERS employee and those that fail to take advantage of it need to know what the implications are. Putting it bluntly seems to be stimulating based on your comments about others believing you were insensitive. So What! If it makes them think about their financial future then say like it really is or in this case say it like it will really be come retirement time.

Luck

Manager
DFAS
Thu Jan 5, 2006 2:29 PM

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It is probably politically incorrect to point out that if you were in Hiroshima when the bomb went off you probably didn't need to worry about saving for retirement. For any other kind of "bad" luck that doesn't kill you, there are ways to compensate. It isn't going to be easy and it isn't going to be fun but there's always something you can do.
After my husband left (taking my monthly paycheck with him) I was left with two children to raise and I was in a dead-end job. I decided education was the only way out. If you think working two jobs while going to school and bringing up two boys was easy - guess again. It took me nearly 16 years to get my degree. Now, 30 years later, I'm maxing out my TSP and the catch-up provisions too. When I retire, I won't be a burden on my kids and I intend to enjoy every minute of it.

RE: RE: Comments re: Retirement

Thorn in the Side
DOD
Thu Jan 5, 2006 4:14 PM

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All most of you have done is to repeat what I just said, only now you think it's your idea. The point is, there are some things you can, and some things you really can't, do much (if anything) about. The second type is luck, not the first. It is an error to confuse the two, and a common one. My former employer liked to say that those who complained about shelter costs in this high-cost-of-living area should move away. 2 years later his wife had left and he was living in an apt., writing a letter complaining about continual rent raises with no value added to the premises. It's a long fall from a high horse, is what I'm saying. No matter how hotsy-totsy we are, we should keep in mind that it can vanish tomorrow, with or without our help.

FYI, the person I referred to in the "teen-age . . .drunken" remark has done quite well for herself. And there were Hiroshima survivors, although a lot of them had had their eyes melted out of their faces. No room here for more.

Total Comments: 23
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