The Foreign Service Journal, February 2010

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 49 cially good fit for Foreign Service retirees. We already know some- thing about learning languages and fitting into a new culture; taking a turn at the other side of the podium just comes naturally. Marie Huhtala Reston, Va. C ITIZEN D IPLOMATS Everybody approaches retirement planning a little dif- ferently. Some call in their accountant for a financial re- ality check. Others call their ex-wives to see how much money they’re going to need to keep them in the style to which they’ve become accustomed. A third group starts calling every important person they’ve ever met to “test the waters” for a new job. People like me, who’ve never thought much about es- tate planning (because we’ve never had an estate), aren’t too concerned about maintaining our current lifestyles. We’ve pretty much resigned ourselves to cutting back and cutting down on expensive trips, fine meals at swanky restaurants and putting on the dog. In fact, many of us were looking forward to just owning a dog and sitting out in our own backyard watching him run around. Many people think that retirement is all about repackaging your life into one you’ve either planned long before, or one that is forced on you by circumstances (fi- nancial considerations, health issues, etc.). While you can earn extra income and improve or stabilize your health, getting control of your attitude is the real long- term medicine for the retirement blues. Deciding where home should be after living outside my country for 25 years was tough. Should I be close to family, friends, nature, the city, jobs, culture, my old hometown? I chose New Mexico. With 343 days of sun- shine every year, a gorgeous natural environment and plenty of space, it fit my needs, especially after living in iffy climates in large cities for more than two decades. The state has indeed proved to be “The Land of En- chantment.” The Helgesen Plan for dealing with the loss of a suc- cessful career (retirement is, in fact, a loss for many peo- ple, as psychologists and self-help books will tell you) can be stated simply: Start a new one. It can be anything you want, but ideally something you’re good at. Most FSOs haven’t updated their resumés in years, but I found that this is a very productive exercise. Do it long before you retire and review it often. If you know what you want to do and it involves other people, do a busi- ness plan. Now that is something very few officers have ever done, but it is something that will get you ready for the perilous waters ahead. Seeking a safe harbor, a place where internationalism is respected and encouraged, I joined the Albuquerque Council for International Visitors (one of two such groups in the state that work with the National Council for In- ternational Visitors on the IV Program). I felt at home right away, and life was good. I soon became the council’s vice president, and later president, serving two terms. It was a very rewarding experience, and I can heartily rec- ommend it — not only as a safe first step to dip your toe into the water, but as a place to really make a difference. I eventually connected with a nonprofit as their exec- utive director and began to expand my contacts in the business, government and academic communities. This led me to state government. In 2006, Governor Bill Richardson appointed me to be the director of the Office of Science and Technology at the state’s Department of Economic Development. (I was actually very well-suited for this job, as much of my time in the Foreign Service was spent with high-tech companies, getting them part- nered-up with U.S. firms.) Since then, I have worked closely with the governor’s science adviser, co-authoring the state’s science and technology plan, a strategic plan for economic development and an ambitious plan for re- newable alternative energy called the Green Grid. There were some disappointments along the way, such as not being prepared for Americans’ lack of awareness of what we in the Foreign Service actually did. (Maybe if they were more knowledgeable they would have been more immediately receptive to my resumé!) This ignorance is not rooted in their unwillingness to learn. It is due to the lack of information out there about who we in the Foreign Service are. That’s why I decided to do something about it. A few months ago, I created Citizen Diplomats , a Web site devoted to showcasing the good works of Foreign Service members and giving FSOs F O C U S I loved my work for State, but there is life after the Foreign Service.