late night....

[curmugeon]

I'm saddened to read of all the people losing jobs. I guess we are in a deep recession, and now is the time to re-invent yourself. I'm amazed of my situation. I was informed yesterday afternoon that I have another $2 million in my budget.  The irony is we are not allowed to fill positions as they become vacant, so as people retire next year, we will be suffering cutbacks and the work will just pile on.

The cities are looking for some part of the bailout and some sort of stimulus package, especially a package of infrastructure improvements. I've crunched so many numbers the last few months preparing estimates for work we dream we could do.

I'm awake right now, but should think of sleep, as the workday starts too soon. The alarm clock will go off at 4 a.m..

To bed I go...

P.S.  I have been asked if I want to work part time as a consultant after I retire.

Comments

[cathy-edgett.livejournal.com]

Yes, I, too, worry about this loss of jobs.

What an honor that they would like you to come back part time as a consultant. Will you consider it?

It might ease the transition, or maybe you are ready to move on.

[n6vfp.livejournal.com]

Consultant work has its pitfalls. I really want to retire but if the job pays well enough and is limited to a few days a week, I might consider it. No, the economy looks like crap locally and for the city, tax revenue is down and we are trying to deal with a $30 million dollar deficit.

[n6vfp.livejournal.com]

I'm really ready to move on...

[cathy-edgett.livejournal.com]

Great! It is their loss and you can do all the things you want to do. Good for you for being so clear!

[monkeyone.livejournal.com]

I expect to be without a job sometime in January. I'm not thrilled, but I should get enough severance pay to carry me through for a while. Also, I'll start receiving Social Security in March.

Social Security is enough to pay for my rent and utilities. My aim after that is to get a job as doorman in my building. That pays enough, provides health insurance, and has a short commute.

I'm not unhappy about that. I've had enough of my present job. The nature of map making has changed drastically in recent years. It's now automated. Maps can be created by software. They are not as good, but the economic advantages of using this software are great.

Still, if my company were not losing money, I would be assured of employment. That is not the case. In this economy, maps are a low priority purchase. GPS units are dropping in price.

So it goes...

[n6vfp.livejournal.com]

I'm close to retirement too. Yes, I worked as a cartographer using the ancient method of negative scribing for the Automobile Club of Southern California in the early 80's. I re-invented myslef as a computer savy technician shortly before the advent of the internet and found my way into civil engineering. I was on the ground floor of automation and computerization then but today their ar so many smart young kids waiting to take my job. I may or may not work after retirement and it will be a few more years till I'm getting any social security, (medicare is what I'm waiting for as I have to ay my own health insurance and it will be very costly).

There is no lack of work where I'm at and even though the city overall is hurting from the current economic crisis, as a department/division we are flush with cash and have more work than we can handle with the staff we have. We keep getting more work piled on, so much so that I will actually look forward to not having to juggle 5 or 6 projects at once.

Wish you the best, I almost went to work for Rand McNally in New York in the early 80's but after looking at what they were paying abd the cost of living didn't.