Anticipation...Not Just A Song

Anticipation.  Webster's defines it as the action of looking forward to something.  As children, we all learned well what anticipation was.  We anticipated Christmas.  We anticipated our birthdays. We anticipated summer vacation.  This anticipation thing soon turned into anticipation of our driver's test.  A final exam. A first kiss.

Right now, I'm in a huge State of Anticipation.  Five months from today, I will spend my final day in Pakistan.  In a little over 2 months, I'll head back to Texas to try to accomplish the impossible.


During those 14 days, I  need to look for a house and buy it, hoping for a closing date in early July when I return for good.  I also have appointments to see my dentist, ophthalmologist and financial adviser. Throw in a visit to the Social Security Administration to find out what my benefit will be and you can come close to feeling my pain.  To add to this, I've begun making a list of everything I will have to start paying for once I'm a normal citizen again. In the Foreign Service when you are assigned abroad, housing and many expenses are provided for you. Those expenses will now return to me.  It wouldn't be so bad if I was still earning my current salary!  Pen to paper, I've tried to estimate expenses, income and just what the minimum I will need to live comfortably.  How much can I afford for a house?  Can I get by with just a part time job?  Not knowing what my exact monthly income will be makes it difficult to estimate anything!  As you can imagine, my anticipation level is quite high. Closer to a stress level.

I anticipate I will be just fine.  I've always lived well within my means and things won't change when I retire. I just want to be able to afford a few things...like visiting my son and his family in Hawaii a couple of times a year.  Like going out to dinner when I feel like it.  Like not having to say "no" to myself for a new pair of shoes.  We all hear the stories about people who didn't plan well for their retirement years.  I hope I've done a decent job.  I plan on getting a part time job and hope it will be enough for me to live comfortably.  Time will tell.

I anticipate lots of challenges ahead but also anticipate I will be just fine. 

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

My Final Christmas Abroad

Christmas is a time that is best spent with family and friends.  Serving in the Foreign Service, most of the time those friends are new friends, made at your current assignment.  This is good, but, as Dorothy once said, there's no place like home.

I don't know how people managed to do this work prior to the great internet.  I mean...they had to write a letter, put a stamp on it and then hope that there was some kind of postal service where they were serving. Then it probably took a month or more to get to the intended recipient.  Then another month or 2 to get a response.  And forget about calling on the phone!  Talk about making a sacrifice!

I've been fortunate to really enjoy the people I've worked with.  I mean, I have to admit that there were times when I had to really work to keep my mouth shut and just nod my head, but for the most part, I've loved my job for the past 6 years.  I don't know that I would change anything or anyone about it.  I've learned lots about security and more importantly, about myself in the process.  When you're in the comfort of your hometown of Anywhere, U.S.A., the thought of chucking it all and living in who knows where might intimidate most people.  I decided to do just that in 2007 and applied to the Department of State.  Best thing I ever did for myself.

About learning about myself...The people I've met, places I've seen and things I've experienced would have never ever happened if I had not taken this job. I've knocked so many things off my Bucket List!  I've discovered the adventurous side of myself and I'm going to have to work at not letting it fade once I retire in June.  I have a few things in mind to keep me busy when I'm no longer gainfully employed.

In the meantime, I look forward to more time with three angels...my grandsons.  That will mean seeing them more than just once a year on Home Leave.  Somewhere in my budgeting, I'll have to find room for a couple of trips to Hawaii a year to see them.

Next Christmas instead of saying Merry Christmas to my son, his wife and my grandsons on Facebook, I hope to be there Christmas morning watching them open the presents from Santa and me, Yaya. That thought will carry me for the next year as I sit here and celebrate my final Christmas overseas...and in of all places...Karachi.

Merry Christmas to you all!

   

Surprise!!

Here in Karachi (or anywhere overseas for that matter), it's always a treat to get mail.  Even junk mail. Some days I'd even settle for my monthly edition of AARP, that I get about once every 3 months.  They just can't find me. The guy in the mail room sends out an email that announces "You Have Mail!"  It always puts a smile on our faces when we leave the mail room with a box.  

Today was special.  Today I received a Care Package with some wonderful yummy things! 

Lynne, you made my day!  What a treat to get some goodies from back home!  One act of kindness deserves another...watch your mailbox for a little something from me...my way of saying thanks! 

Plenty Good!

Suggestions...

Wow...so many have asked me just what they can send me in a care package.  I have come up with some suggestions, light weight, inexpensive and readily available.  But first, let me take this opportunity to say that so many are serving overseas and would love this kind of gift.  I remember once reading an Ann Landers column that gave an address for Care Packages for those serving overseas.  With the holidays coming, it would be wonderful for them to receive a small care package also. Perhaps the Red Cross knows of an organization who can get a box of goodies to others serving at hardship posts around the world.  I don't know if it's possible but it certainly would be nice.

OK, here are a few things that would put a smile on my face....and  again...thank you so much!

I have no Christmas decorations.  :(

 

Any scents are great! Now that it has cooled off, they might arrive in the same shape they leave!

Chocolate...need I say more?

 We have mosquitoes here and Dengue fever is common. 

Red and black "Red Vines" licorice and jujubes...naturally!! (Target has both the licorice and jujubes.) :) 

For some reason, Italian seasoning is just not something sold in Pakistan!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming...love this for stuffing!

Great snack!

A mainstay for me...makes great chicken fajitas!

I threw away my last old wooden spoon...and who can't function without a wooden spoon?

Update on Care Package Address

Jeez, as soon as I posted my address, I received my new one for Karachi.  It's almost the same...Unit 6150 Box 142, DPO AE 09814.  Anything sent to the other address, which was in Islamabad, will be forwarded to me.

To those who asked for my address, a heartfelt thanks to you!  :o)

Care Packages??

I've been asked about an address to send a 'care package' for me.  What a  nice thing to do!  My address is Debi Demetrion, Unit 6160 Box 3057, DPO AE 09812.

Thanks in advance!!