No, not eggs.
Vacations.
You see, for the entire year my husband has been saying he’s going to retire in December. He also forbade me to book any vacations because he works for the Federal Government and can sell back his leave when he goes.
(He gets 5 weeks off every year, so the payout can be substantial.)
Except now that the day is rapidly approaching, he decided he’s going to work a little longer.
Yes, his reasoning is sound.
- The old boss he hated has left and been replaced with a laid back, drama free manager.
- Starting next year, they’re going to push teleworking from home 2-3 days a week…. and since he already works four 10 hour days, it will probably be a 1 day a week commute.
- Good benefits.
- Good pay.
- The ability to dump more in our TSP (Thrift Savings Plan, the government’s answer to a company matching IRA).
I get it.
I do…
But our retirement plan was to travel, and I’d like him to be semi-mobile and breathing without a respirator when we do. (Hauling a corpse in and out of resort elevators is such a drag.)
But back to the scrambling….
It’s almost the end of the year and I don’t have much time to plan and book 5 weeks worth of vacations before time runs out. It’s not easy with the holidays right around the corner. We have a timeshare on a points system and can go anywhere, but since he’s waited so long to request time off, he can’t get more than a week at a time…. which leaves out long distance trips. I hate spending 2 days flying back and forth for only 4 days on site. With the price of tickets these days, it’s not worth it.
So thanks to WordPress’s magic scheduling ability, as you read this… we are currently returning from a week at a ski resort in the western mountains of Maine.
That’s right Lionel, I haven’t been here for a week and you didn’t even miss me.
God bless technology.
Did we ski? Hell no, it’s too early for that… even in Maine. But it’s a beautiful area and I’m sure we explored. And drank. And took pictures.
The deluge of photos will begin shortly….
You’ve been warned.
I telecommute two days a week and I love it. I don’t do the ten hour day thing; but, a lot of my coworkers do.
Yep, a proud contractor for the United States Census Bureau…
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Four tens are great. Every weekend is a 3 day weekend.
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“Sometimes” my weekends are in the middle of the week.
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That would totally screw me up…
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Not only weekends that are in the middle of the week, but flipping nights and days – every other week too.
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Oh, hell no.
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Ten hour days? That’d be nice.
I do twelves. ***ugh
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Yikes!
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Fantastic! I hope you had a great time.
It amazes me how many people “schedule” their blogs. I always blog live, that is, as soon as I am done writing I hit publish. I need to get into “scheduling”, but of course I would have to write sumthin first. 😶😐🤔
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I just don’t have time every day. We live in the country with a creaking broadband connection. Pictures and videos are hellishly slow.
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Woah I wouldn’t have guessed that you’ve been away! But if course, you’re professional and schedule like proper bloggers do. I hit the button when done and go… ah crap, just found typos.
Can’t wait for holiday pics!
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I’m ghostlike… I slip in, and out.
Lots of pics to come!!!
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I go back to work tonight.
I’ve been off for ten day now.
Wish me luck. LoL
My vaca was great, but golly, I gotta get back. I’m exhausted.
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Me too! We rarely relax on vacation and need another vacation to recuperate!
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Jealous. I haven’t been on a vacay in over a year. None on the horizon either. Glad you got the chance to get away.
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One week down…. 4 to go.
And yes, I do realize how lucky I am.
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You spoofed us for a WEEK?? No wonder you didn’t answer the CHICKEN thing!!!
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Chicken thing? Must investigate….
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yup
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Get ready for, “Why didn’t I retire years ago?”
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I might have to cause bodily harm.
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I feel cheated, cheated I tell you! And here I thought you were blogging LIVE! I have no words!
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Sorry.
But in my defense, I was commenting real time…. from the mountains no less. Not always an easy task!
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YOU will regret his not retiring and going traveling–the biggest complaint among seniors here is just that–they didn’t do their traveling when younger (remember these are 80 year olds so younger means you and hubby!!!)
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I know, I know….
He’s slowing down and refuses to admit it.
His body tells him otherwise.
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You’re in the whites aren’t you? I’m so freaking jealous!
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We were! ( Home an hour ago )
And they were glorious….
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I work for the federal government too, and I make sure I roll the maximum 240 hours of leave over each year. Right now I’m a ways off from retirement, but if I die my wife will get that payout. I’d be glad to use some of it for a trip to Maine, though.
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Mine rolls too. He’s never fallen below 240…. but he saved that 5 weeks and now I’m scrambling!
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We started the “RV thing” a couple years ago, squeezing in vacations now with the plan being to gradually extend our away time as we slide into retirement in another couple years. Turns out the RV requires lots of maintenance (read “money”) to keep it road-worthy, so retirement may get backed up a little. Wait…what?
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We have a lot of friends who do that…. and I’m afraid it’s just not for me. We like the freedom a car provides, and with condos? I don’t have to dump my own waste. A definite plus!
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“Marriage is a business in which a man takes his boss along on his vacation.” –Evan Esar
No doubt, your hubby wouldn’t agree with that — at least, not in your presence. I’m sure I wouldn’t — though I can’t speak for my wife (if I value my life).
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He has no need to say that. I’m an utter delight … just ask me.
😉
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I would definitely agree with that — and, as Trump would say, that comes with no quid pro quo (but, in my case, it’s true).
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😊
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I don’t get to sell any unused days. I will use my last two vacation days this week, and then it’s the big “R”
I appreciate your hub’s logic, and I understand the bad boss / better boss thing. That said, I’m glad to be done. I hope you enjoy your vacations.
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That’s too bad. My other half is looking forward to selling it back. Unused sick leave is added to his time in service towards retirement as well.
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Yeah, no luck there, either. We had a very generous sick leave policy, but the days are not earned, per se.
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Husband has over 900 hours sick leave on the books… which equals out to 22.5 weeks added to his time. Every bit helps.
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Good for him! My dad retired from Post Office at 55 but was essentially employed until he was 56.
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More travel pics. Oh, goody! 😎 Mona
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1704 to be exact….
😈
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Holy Shiitakes! With all that picture-taking — when do you find time to just relax and enjoy the vacation?
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That is relaxing!
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Sounds fantastic! And lovely! And with drinks? Yes, well done.
I really enjoyed the elevator bit. Mmhm.
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There are always drinks…
🍸
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Bet the fall colours are beautiful! Glad you got a vacation in.
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Some places were still colorful, others were past peak.
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