I’ve blogged about my husband’s battle with retirement. About his need to still feel productive and his complete inability to relax and enjoy some well deserved leisure time.
I’ve blogged about him retiring in December of 2022 only to return to work in August of 2023.
I’ve blogged about him retiring again in February of 2024 because the gov’t treated him like a new hire and forced him to retake 8 months of training even though he worked there for 22 years and could teach the classes himself.
So…
We’re barely three months into retirement part two and if you think he’s been able to sit back and relax any better this time around you’d be dead wrong.
Because this week found him here…
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On a roof that’s not ours, replacing siding and fixing window leaks.
Working with the contractor we hired to work for us.
And since my husband is retired again … (did I mention that? He went back to work for 6 months but decided to call it quits for good this time. Or so he says)… our contractor has put him to work with the time consuming annoying jobs.
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Like pulling out all the little pieces of old carpet trapped under the frame of the brickwork.
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So many little pieces.
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Of that horrible dusty rose crap that’s still in our bedroom.
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Its removal will be the next project we tackle after this one.
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If this one is ever finished that is.
And because you know nothing goes smoothly here…
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See the threshold piece wrapped in plastic on the right? See how it matches the flooring? There should have been 3 tubes of that, we got 1.
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The other 2 tubes looked like this.
Not even close… which means another delay and annoyance while we wait for the store to replace it.
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Furry inconvenience?
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We’ve got that too as Lord Dudley Mountcatten has developed a fascination with power tools.
Time for an update on the beyond ridiculous process that my husband has undertaken to be reinstated in his government job.
If you remember correctly, this was begun in late February . Yes, it was over four months ago that his old boss approved his return to the office after only a year of (apparently unhappy) retirement.
In that time we have sent resumes, met with onboarding teams and FAA representatives, corresponded with human resource officers and filled out more forms than I thought humanly possible. Every time we think we’re done? They send more.
Mind you, this is a man who spent 22 years in the Marine Corps, 6 with defense contractors, 2 with the American Embassy in Tunisia, and 20 with the FAA. In other words, the government knows him inside and out.
And yet….
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The position you have applied for requires a background investigation. You must complete the following tasks within 15 calendar days of receiving this email:
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We just had to jump through hoops for a background check. For the man who’s held Top Secret clearance more than half of his life.
The forms were unbelievable. It took over 2 1/2 hours to fill them out online. Don’t remember your supervisor’s telephone number from 1979? Well buddy, you’d better find it… the gov’t doesn’t like blank spaces.
They wanted a complete history of our parents, all four of whom are dead. They even wanted the exact date my grandparents stepped foot on American soil and became naturalized citizens. Uh… check the Ellis Island records because I have no friggin’ clue.
None of this was required when he started working there in 2001. Back then it was a resume, a handshake, see you Monday morning.
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Obtain two sets of fingerprints. If you are located near an FAA facility that provides fingerprinting services.
You can make an appointment to have your fingerprints taken at no charge. You can also get fingerprinted at a local law enforcement agency. If going to a local law enforcement agency, bring two copies of the attached SF-87 (fingerprint card) to have your prints taken on, or you can be printed on a law enforcement agency provided card (two cards). We accept “ink prints” and “digital/electronic” prints. If your fingerprints are taken digitally, please ensure the agency can print them on card stock paper. Ensure all required identifying information is completed on the card and the finger-printing official signs both cards.
Print, complete, and sign the Disclosure and Authorization Pertaining to Consumer Reports, DOT Form 1631 (attached).
MAIL (FedEx/UPS/USPS) the following original forms to the Security POC listed below:
· DOT Form 1631
· Two fingerprints cards SF87s
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Oh, he really loved that part. Walking into the police station to be fingerprinted like a felon. Good times.
When that was done, sent and approved?
More forms. With oh so helpful instructions like these.
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As part of the hiring process, you will be completing forms online in the **** This email contains your personal web link and must be used to successfully complete the log-in process and begin completing your forms. Before filling out your forms that may contain ‘Personally Identifiable Information’ (PII), ensure you have installed the latest patches for the Internet browser you are using (i.e., Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, etc.).
To access ****, click on the **** web link below to take you directly to the **** log in screen (do not copy/paste). Click the “Sign in with *****” button and follow the instructions with **** to authenticate your identity. It is important to note, that this email address must be used to register in ***** to access the *****. If the registered emails do not match, you will not be able to access the *****. If you need to use a different email address, please notify your Human Resources Contact included at the bottom of this email.
After a successful logon to *****, you will be redirected to the Rules of Behavior and Security Caution screen, and then onto the Common Information screen. Your first step will be to verify and update (as applicable) any information previously collected from you during the selection process. Be sure to review this information carefully, as it is used to pre-populate forms and payroll data. You will not be allowed to continue until you have completed all of the required fields.
Next you will be taken to the Forms List screen, which contains employment forms you are required to complete. Your prompt attention to complete and submit these time-sensitive forms for Human Resources (HR) approval is imperative. Please follow these steps to assist you in completing forms:
To open a form, click the “Open Form” button in the Tools column. As you are completing a form you may save it and return later to finish filling it out. You may also view your form via a “Completed PDF” at any time during this process. Once you have reviewed and completed the form (including any required electronic certifications and/or signatures), click the “Submit for Approval” button (located on both the top and bottom of the screen). You will then be presented with your Completed PDF as a final review prior to form submission. Once you have confirmed the forms submission, HR will be notified.
After a form has been submitted, an option to “Retract” will appear in the Forms List should you determine you need to pull the form submission back to make a form adjustment. NOTE: You may not retract a form that has been approved by HR.
Unless otherwise specified, please submit forms prior to your first day of employment. An HR Representative will review the form and either approve or reject the form. If the form is approved, there is no further action required by you. If a form is rejected it will show as “Rejected” in the form Status column. We recommend you frequently log into the system to check the status of your forms.
If you need assistance signing into the system or completing the online forms, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below at the number provided. Welcome on board!!
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Welcome aboard my *ss, we still weren’t done.
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I have sent you an ***** e-mail. Please go into the System and complete, electronically sign and submit the in-processing forms.
The Onboarding Team will give instructions regarding these forms: SF-61 Appointment Affidavit OF-306 Declaration For Federal Employment – Appointee Form
I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form SF-181 Race and Ethnicity SF-256 Handicap ID
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I swear… somewhere in a dark depressing cubicle, buried below ground in a secret government office building, a civil service computer programmer is getting his rocks off on the superfluous and redundant paperwork generated in the hiring process.
He gets paid per form, I just know it.
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Yesterday? Three… count them, three beneficiary forms that had to be filled out, printed, wet signed, witnessed by two people, scanned and sent back.
And after we did that? More forms.
I swear the only thing they don’t know at this point is how often we have sex… but now that I mention it, we may have answered that as well.
When (hopefully) the last form was completed and sent? We received this…
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I asked the husband to let me fill out this survey. He refused.
I begged the husband to let me fill out this survey. He refused again.
I seriously wanted to fill out this survey.
In all honestly, I have never in my entire life wanted to fill out a survey so badly.
The unnecessary basement ceiling project is moving right along.
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And after the husband didn’t like the look of his zip taped seams?
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He decided to paint the whole thing white. Another completely unnecessary expense and waste of time. Who’s going to see it… the mice?
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Here he is vacuuming cobwebs out of the windows.
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Man with vacuum is such a rare sighting…. I had to get a close up.
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A giant pause was taken when the cables to our satellite tv were reached. This is sacred ground and must be dealt with properly to avoid interruption in service. He’s only seen Rio Bravo, El Dorado and The Sons of Katie Elder 122 times. Wouldn’t want to miss the 123rd showing.
It’s long been a dream of mine to see … no, not Istanbul or Rome, I’m a simple girl. I only want to see the cellar floor again.
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When we moved into this house 20 years ago we had a gloriously empty 2,000 square foot basement… and I had visions of carefully organized storage shelves so our closets would never burst open again. Sadly this never came to fruition because my husband filled it to the brim with crap, clutter, things he didn’t need and will never use stuff in no time flat. And when I say filled, I mean up to the rafters with barely a path from front to rear. I haven’t seen the floor in years.
So when the husband retired a few months ago and had lots of spare time on his hands, I did what any thoughtful wife would do and subtly suggested now would be a good time to go through his mess, useless junk, rubble treasure once and for all.
But as my title says, I should have been careful what I wished for. Because as I suggested, my husband started sifting though his massive piles of detritus below ground.
The problem is…. it all began to float upstairs.
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Now? There’s a World War II poster/map on my den reading chair.
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There are railroad cars on my kitchen counter.
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There are boxes, bags and assorted dreck on my office floor.
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As well as stamps and a broken clock on my auxiliary desk. So basically, it’s everywhere… and I fear for the future of our living space.
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Because if all that makes it’s way upstairs? I may end up sleeping on that newly cleared cellar floor.
My husband is still not enjoying retirement. He’s bored, antsy as hell and no matter how many times I show him the honey do list… is always looking for something to do. When he’s not twitchy? He’s moping around the house and driving me crazy.
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Damn. That sounds perfect! He has a bar in the man cave and knows how to tap a keg … he has experience!
Pardon me while I check airfare prices to Piel Island, County Cumbria.
(Okay, it’s not that bad. But my husband retired December 31rst and won’t see his first monthly pension check until June. Such are the joys of working for the Federal Government.)
As I’ve said before this was a difficult decision for my hardworking spouse. He struggled with it for years and I knew it wouldn’t be an easy transition. What I didn’t know was that I would suddenly be living with a 74 year old toddler who bores easily and must be entertained.
Since Covid ruined our original retire and travel! plans, the husband has been having trouble finding ways to while away the hours. It’s winter in Maine and we are not skiers, snowshoers, or ice hockey enthusiasts. There’s a lot of indoor down time and one can only play so much pool.
On the plus side? My auxiliary desk that has looked like this since he started teleworking two years ago…
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Is now free of post its and back to normal.
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On the down side? My husband has recently been on the phone with coworkers and clients trying to find a way to worm his way back into the aviation industry.
32 days of retirement and he already wants to go back to work.
He’s come close a few times but was never able to pull the trigger.
I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen.
But today?
He actually did it.
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My husband finally sent in his retirement papers!
While most people dream of this day, my other half has been strangely dreading it. The man has worked since he was 12 years old and he’s going to have a hard time adjusting.
To be honest, he’s not handling the aging process well. Instead of looking forward to relaxing… he feels old and unproductive. Put out to pasture, next step death.
It’s been a constant struggle for me to lighten the mood and paint a rosy picture of our lives post employment. This shouldn’t be difficult, we’re debt free and financially secure….
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Well, that could be an issue…. but my workaholic spouse needs the challenge and feeling of accomplishment work provides, and keeping him upbeat is becoming a bit of a chore.
Our original plan was retirement in 2020 and then … sayonara baby, we were going to travel! But the global plague had other ideas and it’s kicked his health paranoia into full gear, so that’s out for now.
I have a honey do list that could keep him busy until the next millennia, but he doesn’t seem interested.
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That could work. But come on, how much time can you actually spend peeing?
The husband doesn’t fish, or carve duck decoys. He isn’t one for sitting still long enough to read a good book or enjoy a sunset from a rocking chair.
I know it sounds silly, but I swear he’s depressed at the very thought of retirement.
Any advice you can offer would be appreciated. My Suzy Sunshine routine is starting to wear a little thin.
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Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.