A New Year...New Plans

Happy 2014!!

New Year's celebration in Pakistan

I survived New Year's Eve here in Karachi.  For the first time in many years, I partied.  And this morning, my head is reminding me why I decided years ago to not party.  Oy.  But I thought I would start the year off right by writing on my blog.  And with the big change that will occur for me in 2014, I wanted to get off to a good start.

2014.  It’s a year I’ve been talking about for 7 years.  It was 2007 when I decided to apply to the Foreign Service as a Specialist.  And due to mandatory retirement, I only had time for 3 two year tours, with no time for language training or anything else that would cut into those 3 tours.   It’s a decision I’ve never regretted.  Well, the only regret is that I didn’t do it years sooner.  I had this “Six Year Plan” and with just one little hiccup, it’s gone according to schedule.  I will retire in June with 6 years, 3 months service to my country. I’ve saved like a mad woman and will be able to do just fine with just a part time job when I retire.  Youngsters, take note.  Start saving NOW for retirement because it will be upon you before you know it.  And at age 65, you sure don’t want to have to look for full time employment because you have to.  It’s one thing if you're young at heart, mind and body, but if all you want to do is retire, it’s a real bummer if, due to finances, you must work full time.

The end of March, I’ll fly home to Texas to buy a house.  Is it possible to look for, find and buy a house in 2 weeks?  I think I can make it happen.  And I need a realtor who realizes the very little work involved and is willing to take a reduced commission. I mean, why not?  Usually people drag their realtor around every weekend for months, looking at dozens of houses.  And they really earn their commission.  Not me…I’ll only have 14 days in town to buy a house so that I can close on it when I return to Texas July 1.  I’ve already been looking at houses for sale online and think the task is completely doable.  Let’s hope I’m right.  Even though I’ll only need a very small mortgage, I still need to be able to put something down on the application for income.  So I have to buy it while I’m still employed. 

2014.  It’s also a year when I pledge to spend more time with my grandsons in Hawaii.  I’ve only been able to visit them once a year and with the miles I’ve accumulated on American Airlines with all my travel, it will mean a few flights to Hawaii. 

So, bring it on! I’m ready for 2014 and all the lifestyle changes it will bring.  

Ringing in 2014 in New York

Update 2...About to be Unstuck in Islamabad

Things are about to change.

There are several of us here in Islamabad, having been evacuated from Lahore back in early August.  Everyone is waiting on a memo from Washington DC, among other things, guaranteeing credit for a full term served here as well as the onward assignment that many were able to get by volunteering for service in Pakistan.  So far, no news.

My situation is a bit different from everyone else's.  I retire in June and the probability of me finding another job in the State Department (hopefully overseas) was slim.  I had just about resigned myself to winding up my career in DC, stuck in some mundane job, just waiting for June.

If you happen to be an employee of the government, you know that things never happen quickly.  Never. Proposals are submitted, sit in someone's inbox, reviewed, thought about, passed on to the next person for review/approval/rejection...and on and on.  We seem to wait forever for something and then once it is either approved or denied, we have to remember just what we requested in the first place.  It's just the way things are.

Two weeks ago, I was told about a position in Karachi that fit my needs perfectly.  The incumbent was leaving very soon and her replacement wasn't arriving until June.  And it was in the Regional Security Office, which is the section I've worked in all 3 tours.  Perfect!  We started the ball rolling and thanks to everyone here in Islamabad who didn't let an email sit in their inbox for more than a few minutes, I will probably be leaving for Karachi sometime next week.  The really good news is my house in Lahore will be packed out and I will be reunited with all my worldly possessions!  I can finally get rid of the 6 outfits I've been wearing since August 9th.

The best part of all this is that I finally know where I'll be for the next 7 months.  That's been the hardest part of this evacuation...not knowing.

In the meantime, I'm organizing my 6 outfits and the things I've accumulated during the time I've been in Islamabad and getting ready to move to Karachi.  I wonder if I'll need a fire permit to burn those outfits...