The Foreign Service Journal, May 2011

40 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A Y 2 0 1 1 Look to Your Future Live modestly abroad — or as modestly as you can, anyway. Inmany developing countries, your children will associate with the first rank of so- ciety in lavish accommodations with servants. They can easily develop a false sense of status that makes for a real comedown upon re-entry to the U.S., where they are just the children of a government bu- reaucrat. Our savings allowed us to buy a house in 1972 when we couldn’t afford to rent. We still live there today. Think carefully about where to live in the United States. Particularly for a tandem couple, it is critical to live near where you work (we lived four miles from State, a 10- minute drive door to door). If you spend an hour each way in commuting time, that costs you 10 hours a week, or a full workweek each month. There is no way that we could have managed child care and two careers if we’d also had a long commute. When money was tight and my husband’s hours were erratic, liv- ing close to work enabled me to pick him up without much sacrifice. As a bonus, the children loved these jaunts to get Daddy. And we kept the house, not just as an investment but as an anchor for our children to know where “home” is, regardless of for- eign travels. Also keep in mind that the Foreign Service is not a lifetime career. With our up-or-out system, the odds are that you will leave the Service in your mid-50s with amodest pension, andmany life responsibilities still ex- tant (mortgage, children’s education, alimony/child support, etc.). So while working those 50-plus-hour weeks, be aware that you are likely to need a substantial second career, and plan accordingly. Last but not least: No matter how many times you are asked, keep your cool when you have to explain yet again to strangers, relatives or friends that you do not work for the Foreign Legion or the Forestry Service. After all, diplo- macy is to be practiced at home, as well as abroad. F O C U S On your deathbed you almost certainly will not say, “If only I had spent more time at the office.” Active and retired Foreign Service employees from foreign affairs are invited to nominate colleagues (or themselves) for a two-year term with the Foreign Service Journal. Editorial Board members, appointed by the AFSA Governing Board, set the general editorial direction of the Journal , in consultation with the editorial staff, each month. Members evaluate manuscripts, de- cide on future focus topics, and weigh in on other matters affecting the Journal ’s style, substance and process. Board members must reside in the Washington area and be able to attend monthly midday meetings at AFSA. Share Your Expertise! Join the Journal ’s Editorial Board! If interested, please contact FSJ Editor Steve Honley (honley@afsa.org) by June 1.