This song is over....
Feb. 21st, 2010 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
geovikiPeople have said they like it when I post about myself - is this true? *testing, testing*
What's going on with me is that in a short 10 weeks (and counting) I'll be retiring from the job I've held for nearly 32 years. I'm one of those very, very lucky people in the world who works for the U.S. government. The retirement system I'm under is the best in the world (not even rookie US-gov. employees get it any longer). The abbreviated version is that I can retire with full benefits at age 55, which I now am. And being that I've been burned out at work for several years --- which I've felt a serious amount of guilt over because it's not a bad job, really --- I'm headed for the door.
Or, um, well, I'm sort of headed for the door.
Because the deal is, not only do I have the Cadillac (Lexus?) of retirements to look forward to, I also work for an agency with the most liberal revolving door. We've always had an emeritus program that rivals universities, but now we also are able to come back at full pay to work once more. And I wasn't going to do it, at least not doing what I've been doing, (which see burn-out issues, yanno)
But.
Ever since I was wee, I've been at the OCD end of the gene about organizing shit. Those of you who have this same trait (*coughjonemcough*) know the endorphin rush of getting stuff where it belongs. And I'd been toying with the idea of becoming a professional organizer, but (if you've ever seen the TV shows about swooping in and doing this for the folks on the opposite end of the gene) I didn't feel the interest in handling what is sometimes a bona-fide psychological problem. So there I was one night, fresh from cleaning out a file cabinet that had been hauled around from place to place and belonged to a man deceased for 22 years, when it hit me....
I could do this for my agency!
And, in short, this is what I will be doing. Just a couple of afternoons a week, but still. The managers are excited about it, too, because the space is vast and the amount of abandoned material is great. People who are not like me have had a colorful history of walking out the door and leaving everything behind for someone else to deal with. And so far, no one else has had the time or inclination to do so.
The only thing is that I need a better job title than "cleaner of abandoned shit."
Anyway, for the next 10 weeks, I'm cleaning up my own shit (30+ years worth) and moving out of my (very terrific) office. I'll pick up a salvage desk and a little space, enough to store scissors and tape and all, and then I become the Organizing Fairy!
And on the other days, I'll be doing whatever the hell I want! Anyone up for a visit?
What's going on with me is that in a short 10 weeks (and counting) I'll be retiring from the job I've held for nearly 32 years. I'm one of those very, very lucky people in the world who works for the U.S. government. The retirement system I'm under is the best in the world (not even rookie US-gov. employees get it any longer). The abbreviated version is that I can retire with full benefits at age 55, which I now am. And being that I've been burned out at work for several years --- which I've felt a serious amount of guilt over because it's not a bad job, really --- I'm headed for the door.
Or, um, well, I'm sort of headed for the door.
Because the deal is, not only do I have the Cadillac (Lexus?) of retirements to look forward to, I also work for an agency with the most liberal revolving door. We've always had an emeritus program that rivals universities, but now we also are able to come back at full pay to work once more. And I wasn't going to do it, at least not doing what I've been doing, (which see burn-out issues, yanno)
But.
Ever since I was wee, I've been at the OCD end of the gene about organizing shit. Those of you who have this same trait (*coughjonemcough*) know the endorphin rush of getting stuff where it belongs. And I'd been toying with the idea of becoming a professional organizer, but (if you've ever seen the TV shows about swooping in and doing this for the folks on the opposite end of the gene) I didn't feel the interest in handling what is sometimes a bona-fide psychological problem. So there I was one night, fresh from cleaning out a file cabinet that had been hauled around from place to place and belonged to a man deceased for 22 years, when it hit me....
I could do this for my agency!
And, in short, this is what I will be doing. Just a couple of afternoons a week, but still. The managers are excited about it, too, because the space is vast and the amount of abandoned material is great. People who are not like me have had a colorful history of walking out the door and leaving everything behind for someone else to deal with. And so far, no one else has had the time or inclination to do so.
The only thing is that I need a better job title than "cleaner of abandoned shit."
Anyway, for the next 10 weeks, I'm cleaning up my own shit (30+ years worth) and moving out of my (very terrific) office. I'll pick up a salvage desk and a little space, enough to store scissors and tape and all, and then I become the Organizing Fairy!
And on the other days, I'll be doing whatever the hell I want! Anyone up for a visit?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 01:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 01:20 am (UTC)Congratulations. It must be an incredible feeling knowing that having to get up and go is not mandatory.
Best wishes and enjoy!
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 01:27 am (UTC)Wow, I really wish you'd come organize my pantry (which is the secret shame of my household management), but I doubt that would be the same sort of fun, nor does it pay very well. But you're very welcome to come crash here anytime you want to sightsee in the Big City, as I hope you know.
You're going to be a very, very popular woman at among your colleagues, I predict. Really, you're becoming a sort of archivist. That's a large part of what they do: sorting through immense piles of documents and objects, figuring out what to keep, and organizing those documents (and producing a finding aid for what is kept).
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:08 am (UTC)Yeah, archivist is definitely a better term. We have 2 managers in our building, and one of them was so thrilled that she dragged me all over the building, me showing her stuff she didn't know she was paying for to store and me, learning about other seekrit junk areas. She wanted me to start right away, full time, for her group exclusively. I had to turn her down!
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 01:28 am (UTC)If you're serious about needing a name for what you're going to be doing, one way to say it would be "archival consultant." And (here speaks *my* OCDishness) you are checking in with the National Archives to see what they might want from all these abandoned piles of paper? You'd be amazed at what historians think is useful ...
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:11 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2010-02-22 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 01:39 am (UTC)This sounds like a fantastic project for you. Congratulations!
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 01:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 02:07 am (UTC)I've worked for the same company for more than a decade, (not the government, alas), and there way of repaying me was to cut my hours to twelve a week and take away my medical! But they tell me they love me...
I'm so happy for you. How amazing!! It's a good thing; you deserve it.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 02:17 am (UTC)Now to find a way to hie myself to Colorado......
(You wouldn't want to come to Paris help me organise myself? Because I am PANTS at it. I send everything late, when I do. Disaster area here.)
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:18 am (UTC)And your home is gorgeous, what are you saying?!
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 02:18 am (UTC)And HURRAH!!! CONGRATS!!! Yay to sort-of retiring and yay more to finding a way to do something you love. That's great news. And of course, it couldn't happen to a lovelier person. I"m very happy for you. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 02:30 am (UTC)That is a fabulous title :D i enjoy organizing too so i can imagine how awesome that job could be!! Congrats for finding a way to make extra pocket money :D
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:20 am (UTC)It's extra money plus a way to ease myself into the golden years. I had a bit of struggle to wrap my mind around the idea that Monday was my last paid holiday ever... I'm not that old, am I?
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 03:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 04:02 am (UTC)Wish I could visit, but I'm beginning the very personal process of digging through my own psyche. Maybe in a few months…
no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 03:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 04:14 am (UTC)A definite possibility.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 03:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 06:39 am (UTC)yays for retirement and for finding something else to do that is useful and keeps you entertained.
i personally like the title organising faerie myself.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 03:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 03:45 am (UTC)I think it'll work out well. I've been organizing stuff at work nearly the whole time I've been here, and helped close down our last huge office 15 years ago.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 10:59 am (UTC)Come to visit!! Either to CON.TXT . Or for my birthday over Labor day. Or anytime, really. I'd love to see you and hang out.
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Date: 2010-02-23 03:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 03:21 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2010-02-23 03:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 06:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 03:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-22 08:35 pm (UTC)...I'm jealous, I'll admit it.
The fact that you know where all the bodies are buried, so to speak, will stand you in good stead. You'll be the one they save the really juicy stuff for - and you can make yourself a nice little niche that poeple will really value you for.
Yay retirement!
And I think it goes without saying that I love the personal posts!!
no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 04:02 am (UTC)People will tremble when they see me coming their way, I think!
no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-23 04:02 am (UTC)