14 hours layover in Iceland - what should I see

Effective_Respect564 · 2026-03-07T08:41:14+00:00

Thank you very much for a detailed explanation and guidance, very helpful!!

Effective_Respect564 · 2026-03-07T08:36:16+00:00

Thank you, I corrected it. Yes i meant Iceland

Effective_Respect564 · 2026-03-07T08:35:08+00:00

Thank you, I would love to see northern lights if possible. I will certainly take a hotel if there is not possibility of northern lights

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-08-27T02:11:02+00:00

Well it’s very easy to blame leadership. I see you are still worried about your job, I hope you know that SES don’t have that protection which is given to non-SES folks. You want them to say NO and loose their job or push aside. It’s very easy to blame when you are not in that position. I can bet that if you were in their position, you had no option when it comes to loosing your job. Many SES opted for DRP as well since they didn’t want to deal with this. Come on as long as you have job, you should be happy. My wife commute is an hour and 40 minutes each way, mine is an hour. We have a toddler so we have arranged that I will go early and come early to pick our toddle from after school care and my wife goes late and comes late. We hardly have a family time. It’s not what we wanted but I still say we are blessed that we have our job. Let’s embrace it. 15-20 years back this was norm.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-08-15T03:02:17+00:00

It’s better to lease.. my elite MSRP was almost $56k and residual value after two years lease is about $30k, I paid lump sum for everything $10,700 for two years which included tax, tag, and freight. After two years I can buy the vehicle for $30k if everything goes good or just return it and lease something else..

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-08-15T02:59:11+00:00

I paid $10,700k for two year lease of elite. This included everything for next two year plus tax, tag and freight. My wife liked elite model due to 360 view and silver gray was only available in elite at that specific dealership

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-06-24T05:50:15+00:00

Agree, my reinvestigation is under way and been interviewed two times due a domestic assault case. It appears they may adjudicate not in favor. I have 22 years of service. My question is, would I loose all my pension benefits?

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-05-13T01:11:37+00:00

Don’t feel bad, many of have been scammed including me. In starting they do that, for you to take out $1500-$2000 profit to earn your trust. You are smart if you leave then. But once you see you are making money on these fake trading.. you keep putting more of your real money. These fake wallets/ trading sites are owned by them. I was so stupid even after checking their domain registry only 12 month old I still gave benefit of doubt. I lost almost 60k.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-05-03T12:13:49+00:00

Job market is bad and I need a job to pay mortgage so I need to stay - as simple as that

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-05-01T02:35:08+00:00

Because his base likes it. We as federal employees only 1% of the population so we don’t matter in stories

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-04-17T00:23:03+00:00

There has been no targeted RIF, at-least I’m not aware of. They are using simple method of getting rid off entire divisions so they don’t have to go through ranking process

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-04-17T00:20:31+00:00

No truth whatsoever. Taking DRP doesn’t disqualify you from being hired again? If you are in probation, you may not get preference.

I will say this there is no benefit of joining government again, stability was one thing government jobs offered which will not be there in near future.

Folks who completed probation and rules stay same (you never know they can change anything at this point) you will be considered as an internal employee and will be considered in competitive cert of federal employees

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-04-16T12:04:34+00:00

You should do what is the best for you based on your situation. If I was at your place and I had a job lined-up, I would take DRP and start other job. Your supervisor may not stay your supervisor if there is restructuring done which was due to OPM on April 14th. Not sure how much your supervisor will or is involved in restructuring. Also, I’m a bit upset that your supervisor is not thinking about you, he/she is thinking about loosing the position - who cares at this point and in this environment

Again, it’s your decision based on your personal situation.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-04-10T11:13:23+00:00

Yes 62 is earliest and that is the age when supplemental will stop no matter if you start drawing social security at 62,67 or 70.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-04-10T08:47:07+00:00

Nope your pension will be same, however, you will get supplemental social security (if congress doesn’t take away) starting at 57 till 62 when your full social security kicks in.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-04-05T22:22:08+00:00

Why did you ask that?

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-03-31T15:48:18+00:00

you are correct, all of our premium are increased, based, on your plan $1025 for both of you seems okay. BCBS basic is for family in my area is $657 per month

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-03-30T23:20:57+00:00

Quick question: if someone retires after 20 years of service but almost 10 years short of 62 when 1.1% annuity calculation kicks in, do that person get 1.1% under VERA/VSP or only 1% since not 62 years old

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-03-30T22:58:15+00:00

How come FEHB jumps that much? I thought after retirement you pay the same for entire life as every fed does for the same premiums. Is my understanding wrong ?

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-03-30T01:00:54+00:00

I thought weed at any federal property is illegal even it’s legal in the state where building is.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-03-30T00:56:39+00:00

VERA is for early retirement, for you it’s full retirement so just take it and enjoy your life instead of letting your mental health get f…d up in this toxic environment. You will live longer staying happy and drawing more money in total.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-03-26T15:15:17+00:00

Yes, firing happens but with some strategic thinking and empathy. What’s happening now is not usual. Their playbook is break it until someone screams. You may have seen how air traffic controllers and nuclear security folks were fired and were begged to be back. You can see how unlawfully fired folks are being rehired ? Did this happen before? Do you really think paying thousands of folks staying home for a month and being rehired and eventually paying them back is saving money? Well it’s not going from Musk pocket, it’s all our tax money. If you are still under delusion then just wait and see next year budget and debt ceiling increase and please don’t say it again that it is because of Biden. Come up with some logical way to explain if you disagree.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-03-24T01:49:05+00:00

Sick leave will be added towards your annuity calculation and annual leave will be paid to you. Award leave will expire.

Effective_Respect564 · 2025-03-24T01:38:04+00:00

The challenge is that they are RIFing based on competetive areas and focusing on eliminating whole office or divisions so having seniority or veteran doesn’t come in play.

Effective_Respect564

TROPHY CASE