The Foreign Service Journal, February 2006

problem in that only overseas assign- ments make economic sense, and I can’t spend much time in the depart- ment schmoozing. The basic prob- lem, however, is no money, particular- ly no money for public diplomacy. When USIA was absorbed into State, the PD areas kept salaries in their budgets. This was probably wise, but they receive no central money to help out with unexpected gaps at posts. I could, of course, fill other posi- tions as I have experience in doing political work and have been acting DCM at two posts for considerable periods of time. A PD background isn’t helpful here but, again, the basic problem is money. Maybe next year. In the meantime, I have an art gallery in my home. It’s a “real” busi- ness in that it is registered, I pay taxes, and I have made a profit — though if I had to live on the proceeds, I’d be slim indeed. Basically, the income pays for travel, more art, some maga- zine subscriptions and gives me “mad money.” It is difficult to determine whether the Foreign Service experi- ence helped me (except in having got- ten to know a number of artists over the years), or whether the qualities that made the Foreign Service fun for me also contribute here. As I don’t work full time, you might call me “fully retired.” What am I doing? I am finally finishing my doc- torate in Romanian history. I am active in the local Democratic Party organiza- tion and write a weekly news column for our local paper. I sing in a choral group. I organize tours to India and Romania, trying to help out friends in those countries. I am involved in a 4-H project that, we hope, will result in a partnership between Pamlico County, N.C., and Vilcea Judet, Romania. And, of course, my two horses keep me busy riding and taking part in horse associa- tions and shows. I am in North Carolina because my newly-acquired husband (the reason for my retirement, in fact) was here. I like it. If I weren’t here, I would be living in the mountains of San Diego County. In 22 years in the Foreign Service, I only lived in Washington three times for a total of less than two- and-a-half years — it’s not home. The Retirement Seminar was good and the followup has been spectacu- lar, but dealing with the Retirement Division was like being a visa appli- cant in Nigeria. I retired voluntarily, long before I would have been TICed out, so that part of the emotional process was not a factor. I anticipated problems in acquiring an identity: If I am not in an embassy or the Department of State, who am I? But it turned out not to be a problem here because people don’t care who you were before. And most of them have never heard of the Foreign Service anyway. Kiki Harris North Carolina Ambassador in the Yampa Valley “Oh, Mr. Ambassador, could you help me, please?” The voice of the skier came to me out of the swirl- ing snowstorm. “Not bad,” I thought, “a retirement job where I get some respect!” I’ve traded in my blue pinstripe suit for a mango-colored Goretex ski parka with “STEAMBOAT AMBASSADOR” emblazoned on the back. My office is a stand of spruce trees at the top of Mt. Werner, where I gather my min- ions every Sunday morning to start the mountain ski tour (at 10,685 feet above sea level, it’s considerably closer to heaven than the seventh floor of the State Department). My employee evaluation comes from the hundreds of guests I meet face-to-face every week, most of whom tell me that Steamboat’s ambassador program is the best free service offered by any ski mountain in the business. My volunteer “work” at the Steam- boat Ski Area, overlooking the Yampa Valley in Colorado, requires spending time up on the mountain with the ski- ing guests, answering their questions, seeing to their needs. It’s PAO stuff, without the staff. Every day at 10:30 a.m., a hardy band of ambassadors takes small groups of skiers on a free two-hour guided tour of the mountain. We hit the skiing high spots, tell them some local lore, and point out where the best powder stashes are likely to be found when the next storm rolls in. 52 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 6 Retired FSO Don Mathes traded in his pinstripe suit for a Goretex ski parka and volunteer work at the Steamboat Ski Area in Colorado.