Plan B Forum

I was out of work for what I considered an extended period (11/09-7/10), then landed this job with a large, bureaucratic employer - definitely not the kind of place where I would prefer to work. Every decision takes months, no one is willing to do anything "different," everyone is constantly covering their ass.

My workload was initially miniscule. I was hired in anticipation of a big surge in new work that never materialized. I really hated this job when I first came here. I had two other options on the table when I chose to come here, and I REALLY felt like I'd fucked up in taking this position.

By going around begging for work I've gradually accumulated a group of people who look to me for support (resolving contractual and administrative problems, mainly), and the little bit of work I now do is fairly gratifying, all things considered. Honestly, I am WORKING about three or four hours a day, on average. The rest of time I'm just filling in. (I occasionally get a chance to do fairly lucrative consulting work for a couple guys I worked with a lifetime ago, and I'm normally able to do it from my desk. The internet's great, isn't it?).

Several times during my first year I looked both within and outside the company for another job. Some openings came up internally, but I am precluded from applying for the first 18 months. My boss likes me - we have similar personalities and approaches - and he likes the fact that since I'm rarely busy he can throw garbage at me any time, and know that it will be cleaned up in short order.

Lunch time here is, basically, 30 minutes, taken any time between 1130 and 1300. I personally take the entire time between 1130 and 1300. I eat, read the newspaper, and usually go out to my car for a nap. Embarrassing, but true.

I come in at 0730 and leave at 1600, sharp. Every day. I have worked past 1600 only two or three times in the 15 months or so that I've been here. Because of the nature of my position and how it is budgeted I am NEVER asked to travel. Not even locally. My commute runs between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on traffic, but it's usually closer to 15.

I was solicited for another job last week (outside the company), and I quickly realized that if I took that position I might have to actually do some work.

I quickly discarded the email.

I have become a lazy slug.

I would be quite concerned about my deterioration, but at 62 years old, WGAF?

When do you think you will be in a position to retire Dave? Do you need to work towards building up a superannuation or pension fund?

That is the main reason Hen and I work, we're both investing is as big a pension pot as we can.

I love my job.

The hours are (on some weeks) extremely long for a public servant (13+ a day). I rarely take a lunch break.

The work is demanding. (What the Minister wants WILL be delivered, and if not a bloody good, water-tight reason for not delivering it will be given.)

There is no overtime paid and taking any accrued time off is difficult. I am the point of contact for all other ACT Government Directorates when they need any justice or community safety issues addressed.

However, in around 2 years I will be in the fortunate position of spending around 18 months acting in a position that financially receives $60,000 per annum more than I receive now. (Though not initially.)

This is what I have been aiming for. By being able to secure myself in that position for over a year will mean that when I retire I will receive a pension that is substantially greater than my current salary. I have always wanted to retire on an index-linked pay-rise.

I was having a convo with an old Manager of mine recently.

I had just had a birthday and advised him that it was my "12th" birthday as I only had 12 years left in the Service.

He berated me for even thinking of retiring. His reasoning was that when you retire, you give up on life. This is not the way I see it. When I retire, I will begin living for myself.

Once I run down my remaining 12 years of Service, I will begin my birthday count once more. When I turn 61, I will call it 1, and so on.

I am looking forward to having the BEST second-time around twenty-first birthday at age 81.

What a load of unadultarated spineless political bullbleep!

Why don't these cretins actually do something to benefit actual WORKING AND OUT OF WORK AMERICANS instead of passing another brain-dead and gutless Senate resolution that is essentially meaningless.

As long as my patents make > $10 million a year in net profits (and I'm filing 3 more this year with 2 provisionals) I figure that I can screw around and read Voltaire's letters from England for an afternoon when I don't feel like thinking about chemistry. His letters about Newton and his meeting a Quaker are especially interesting.

bartleby.com A great resource for the literate and lazy.


yrs,
rubato