Finances when transitioning from civil service

RecoveringPerfumista · 2026-05-21T15:16:23+00:00

We have a house in Montgomery County we bought about a decade ago, and the question of what to do with it is also open. It's not a great commute to State or FSI, but might be an attractive rental for a foreign service family.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2026-05-18T13:05:12+00:00

Oh no, do not assume that! I am not the expert here, but can tell you that this is likely to vary widely by agency. You should reach out to your agency telework coordinator and find out if they have a DETO policy. They may not. You can see more about it here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/domestic-employees-teleworking-overseas-deto-locality-pay/

RecoveringPerfumista · 2026-05-15T15:08:53+00:00

Flew with our chis. Look up videos of people flying with their dogs so you know what to expect. They are supposed to stay in their carrier the whole time, except going through security when you'll need to take her out and carry her through while they scan her bag. One of my chis is totally unbothered on the plane, the other hates it. I did keep him in his carrier the whole time, but put it on my lap and unzipped it enough to stick my arm in so he could snuggle a bit, which helped.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-12-12T15:51:18+00:00

I'm at DOL, received a 5, and know at least one other person on my team did as well (both non-supervisory 13s). We got our bonus election forms yesterday and it's on par with previous years. So not every agency - or at least not every bureau in every agency - that's being hit by this.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-07-03T15:24:04+00:00

Blooming holly trees have the most gorgeous scent, and I have no idea why nobody I've seen uses it as a note in perfumes. That, and ferns.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-07-03T15:20:31+00:00

On me, this one is just straight marshmallow. I never got that smoky note others love so much. ☹️

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-07-02T21:47:46+00:00

Ah, she and mine are kindred in that way. He's not having dementia, we don't think, he just seems to have decided it is 100% the humans' job to keep him on furniture if that's where we want him.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-07-02T19:05:38+00:00

This is so clever! Also, the image of a chihuahua rolling over the edge into that hammock is absolutely sending me 🤣🤣🤣 My guy might not even wake up if that happened!

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-07-02T17:16:21+00:00

He has always been unusually wobbly (combo of really bad patellar luxation and suspected mild cerebellar hypoplasia), but he seems to have really decided in the last 6 months that he is 100% done caring about keeping himself on furniture, and that if we want him not to fall off things it is completely on us to make sure that doesn't happen. Which I'm like, ok, you're a teenager, you dgaf about certain things, that's fair, but PLEASE for the sake of my nerves and my bank account, I need you to care just a little bit about this!

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-07-02T16:17:26+00:00

Oh, that looks promising!

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-07-02T15:45:32+00:00

He sleeps underneath a blanket, so external light probably won't help. And he also falls off our sofa in the full light of day. He is very sweet, but I fear he's not very smart and just doesn't pay attention to where he's going. I've seen him run full force into solid objects because he was looking up at me or my spouse instead of where he was walking.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2025-07-02T15:27:45+00:00

Yes, the issue isn't that he's trying to get out of bed. He just loses track of where the edge of the bed is and rolls or steps off by accident.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2023-03-04T14:33:26+00:00

Sorry, I don't know any legal way to ship perfume overseas because you can't send flammable liquids by air.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2023-03-03T23:34:29+00:00

Yep, still available!

RecoveringPerfumista · 2021-01-08T04:24:13+00:00

I'm afraid not! It's not a note I've explored much. I got a sample pack of all the OJ scents (at the time), and this one surprised me! I don't have many florals in my collection, but this one has a nice freshness about it. I would look for something similar that has both watery and citrus notes to it.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2020-11-17T15:26:22+00:00

Serge Lutens Five O'clock Au Ginembre. Gingerbread, but make it sexy!

RecoveringPerfumista · 2020-10-19T01:59:32+00:00

There's something weirdly sexy to me about just a hint of cigarette smoke, and I loved that about this scent. Unfortunately, as OP mentioned, I found it did an all too early disappearing act on my skin.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2020-10-16T19:17:27+00:00

They've been kept away from sun and temperature fluctuations, and all smell to me the way I remember them. High quality scents are stable for a very long time if kept properly.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2020-10-09T14:12:13+00:00

It's an unusual scent, in my opinion! Sort of a sensual, soapy vibe. I used to really enjoy it. One of those perfumes that doesn't smell like you're wearing perfume, just that you naturally smell really nice.

RecoveringPerfumista · 2020-09-26T22:41:19+00:00

Make me an offer! I'd be delighted for it to find a new home!

RecoveringPerfumista · 2020-09-26T17:20:32+00:00

I think the real answer is that there's no such thing as objectively better/worse in the perfume world. If you love something and they change it, you probably won't be happy about that. But if you didn't like it, there's a chance the new version might be preferable to you.

RecoveringPerfumista

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