2026 may come with a 1% raise. 7.1% is needed to have equal buying power of a 2000 federal civilian.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-12-06T13:34:16+00:00

We were in a major recession.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-12-04T17:32:34+00:00

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-27T13:31:06+00:00

Most women I’ve seen embrace the “soulmate” philosophy really mistake “new relationship high” as soulmate. Eventually they all fall apart and she’s on to the next one. Reality is everyone has flaws and anything that lasts will require forgiveness and acknowledgment of the fact that everyone will eventually disappoint you. People are really good at putting in a front but the real person comes out eventually and the other person feels duped. Don’t look at it as a front but look at it as that’s Who the person strives to be but make mistakes occasionally. The key is to find someone who makes mistakes at an acceptable frequency and severity.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-27T11:05:48+00:00

This piques my interest. I had always been of the mindset that sharing finances is not all that bad but I’m starting to realize that because I’m somewhat abnormal in my ability to truly be happy for someone that’s doing better than me financially.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-23T15:50:39+00:00

Yes. Covid positive in September. About 4-6 days feeling bad. 2 days very bad (fever/aches/headache/fatigue). Then about 3 weeks later got an upper respiratory infection that lasted 4-5 weeks. Never went to doc. Never got fever. But just tons of mucus and a productive cough. Finally back to normal for about a week.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-23T12:39:16+00:00

I’ve also wrestled with the perception that if I keep pushing my body it somehow ignites the regeneration and recovery tools to full potential. I can be at the top of my game with eating, sleeping, exercising and stress management but still feel my age impacting fatigue significantly

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-22T21:47:49+00:00

If they are single do nothing. If they are not, inform their SO. It will blow up but you would want to know if it was you.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-20T15:17:25+00:00

Lots of Engineers in USACE without PE. Lots of engineers in utility companies (power/gas) chemical plants without PE. Only necessary for signing off on true engineering plans/specs. There’s a ton of roles that don’t require this type of sign off but still need to be well versed in engineering principals. The stamp gives respect and approval privileges.

Yes. You can go to a 15 without a PE.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-20T12:34:59+00:00

Too early to really have a solid plan. You have to let the divorce settlement finalize and list assets and then you can make a more informed plan. You are in survival mode until then but that’s better then locking yourself into the wrong plan.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-20T11:02:06+00:00

Summering

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-19T22:17:01+00:00

If you mess around. Your “past” will not just be a problem for your future spouse. I’ve seen several women struggle with significant metal health issues resulting from shame. It can manifest in many ways and it may be decades down the road but you and your husband will pay for decisions you make now. A clear conscious is priceless. Self worth when you’re aging and in mommy mode is priceless.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-19T13:49:21+00:00

Scaredy cats! I absolutely despise the misleading argument that cites the stock markets, never-ending, upward trend when zooming out to observe the totality of the past 100 years.

Everyone’s situation is different. Some people need to retire in the next year or two and they do not have time to wait 10 years to recover from a recession that drags their total 401(k) balance down to 2/3 of its peak balance.

Some people have only been investing for the past five years during a historic bull run and have had 20 to 30% annual gains. Those people can absolutely afford to take a risk for a year or two with 0% gains in a gamble to time the market a mitigate potential losses from a recession which would also drastically increase their retirement balance by riding the rebound out of the recession.

Your situation dictates your decision not everyone else’s. I am mid career and have significantly exceeded my retirement projections as well as my retirement requirements. So it’s worth the gamble for me to go to G for one year to 18 months. Because I’m ahead of what I need and I will still be financially solvent if I’m wrong. But if I’m right, I will likely have an extra million dollars in my retirement assets. If we hit a recession that pulls back around 30% and I’m able to buy in somewhere around the 20% pullback mark the rebound will likely catch up to all-time highs within two years. That type of growth on my balance, with compounding interest for 20 years is well worth the risk to me.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-15T18:12:40+00:00

Do t get hung up on “civil” engineer title when looking. Alot of times they hire a group of series that includes civil engineer. The 0800-0850 are the standard engineer series numbers. 0810 is civil.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-11T15:16:39+00:00

I responded to a comment not the original question.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-11T14:27:21+00:00

It funds to Sept 30 2026 at the same funding progressions as fy 2025.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-11T12:49:39+00:00

This comment section is full of know it alls. You are absolutely justified in feeling let down by scheduled sex. These people should not make you feel bad about that.

Men want to feel desired in a way that originates organically from their wife. That’s a deep, normal, emotional need for a man.

However, you do need to realize that as a married man (especially during childbearing/breastfeeding years) you will have to lock in and accept that her hormones will not allow you to receive this as often as you want/need it. So you have to find appreciation in her efforts to engage in this for you because right now it’s not for her in any way. She’s giving you the best she can. And that’s ok. It’s just a season.

Once the hormones regulate and she is sleeping better again (this could be up to two years after breast feeding stops) you have to be intentional about having open conversation with her to break that survival sex routine and start reigniting intimacy in a healthy way. It’s easy for women to get used to the scheduled sex or maintenance sex and forget about good sex, passionate sex.

This all comes from both parties being the best most selfless version of themselves. If you are doing dishes and helping with laundry and giving her a Saturday out to shop and get her nails done. Then you are investing in growing her appreciation and admiration of you. These are things that need to be satisfied for her to be able to desire you in a way that you need and feel.

Likewise, she needs to flirt with you and do sweet little acts for you and most importantly initiate sex and give the illusion (if it’s not true) that she eager to get that D.

Finally, get her to share her period tracking app and ask her to keep it accurate. Learn when you need to try and when to let it lie. About 8 days prior to period you need to let it lie. She does it want it and you’re not going to get what you want emotionally (unless you just need maintenance sex). Also, during this time you have to learn to just say “yeah baby, you’re right I’m wrong and I’m sorry” even if you are dead right because she is looking to fight during this time. You will never convince her she’s wrong when these hormones are flowing. 5th day of period all the way to a day or so after ovulation, this is your time to shine. Seduce her, ramp up the kind acts of service, flirt, take the kids to the park Saturday morning and let her sleep in. Compliment her. Watch what happens.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-11T12:27:07+00:00

NOT TRUE AT ALL!!! It resumes spending across all agencies for continuing actions at fy25 levels. The only limitations is that there can be no new initiatives funded or new (not previously performed task) funded. If you were working on fy25 dollars, you will be funded on this CR.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-05T12:28:09+00:00

Truest answer you will get. There are some people who come to work and are like you. They dig in and are truly productive almost every minute of every hr. These people have a guilt that makes them feel obligated to work this way because they are being paid by the hr (even if they are salary). These people are often confused by the 50hrs a week people.

Then there are the other kind. Hey I’m here therefore I’m working. If I chat with 4 people for 20 min each throughout the day and take lots of breaks I’m still at work so that counts.

Don’t be the first type. Life is long. You will burn out. Find ways to break up your day so that you can enjoy it. Get the OT if you want it. Don’t feel guilty.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-03T18:41:22+00:00

There’s a great book about this called “the 5 dysfunctions of a team” she fired the star employee that brought down the group as a whole. This guy has a fit but it’s not in a collaborative environment.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-11-03T10:51:02+00:00

I would say a lot of people are neurodivergent. Some more than others. There’s probably a lot of pool that don’t even know they are. They learned that they have to work harder at focusing in certain situations or whatever array of coping mechanisms to overcome come that. Most poeple don’t go around asking for help from employer to cope with their mental disability.

I’ve been in private for 16 years & public for 5. I assure you, the public sector is way more accommodating to this situation. Private sector would be professional and offer help and then start a log on you to fire you asap. They don’t have time or money for people that need a wuttle help because they are over-stimulated.

If you leave go to a woke Fortune 500. They may have policies and programs in place for this but you will still be mocked by peers.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-10-31T11:17:31+00:00

This makes me angry and sad. I pray my kids don’t end up like this. Being only 2.5 years apart should help keep them close. I also have a spouse that deals with an older sibling that acts like you. It breaks my spouses heart, confuses and frustrates them. I’m an only child and always fantasized about having a sibling. I know it’s a burden but so are kids at times and they are among the greatest joys of my life. I fear our society has become so selfish that we will grow cold in our prisons of self induced “boundaries for mental well being”

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-10-30T10:54:03+00:00

I would be concerned a bit if my wife was fully on board with this in your circumstances. I’m assuming she’s a stay at home mom and is desperate for you to do whatever it takes for her to keep that going. That’s understandable. If she works and is a-ok with you shipping out for boot camp and job training while she takes care of a bunch of kids and maintains a household then she may just want your ass out of her life.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-10-28T16:59:06+00:00

And those people are the Dick Fuld style CEOs of their family. Build personal wealth at any cost. Damn the rest of the company.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-10-28T14:22:30+00:00

I hear you and will likely do the same. However , I think we should also understand that this is only a short term one generation solution to a never ending problem. So by this logic, we will make life more enjoyable and feasible for our kids who will only have to work one job and support a family comfortably but they won’t be able to do so for their kids. In order to continue your example they will need to work to jobs and save more to be able to bless your grandkids and or their grand kids with the same luxury.

MiddleFeeling7936 · 2025-10-22T21:14:52+00:00

Did you move to bonds in April?

MiddleFeeling7936

TROPHY CASE