The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2015

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2015 65 FS KNOW-HOW Here are some lessons learned on the retirement transition from a member of the Foreign Service who's been there recently. BY E I L EEN MAL LOY EileenMalloy retired from the Senior Foreign Service in 2008 after a 30-year career and continues to work as an inspection team leader for the Office of the Inspector General. She served as ambassador to Kyrgyzstan from 1994 to 1997. F or my family, 2014 was the year of the big downsizing. For me, it was the perfect storm. I spent it helping to dispose of my father’s 80-year accumulation of art and artifacts; clearing my aunt’s beloved home of a lifetime of books, papers and knickknacks; and mov- ing my own household from Virginia to Wash- ington state—all while working part-time for the Office of the Inspector General as a WAE team leader. Want to guess which of these three big tasks was the most difficult, time-consuming and expensive? My personal move, of course. It was the first time I had to move household effects at my own expense since joining the Foreign Service in 1978. The Big Downsizing Retirement Lessons We are all set to go. When the moving van arrives, you will be glad you took the time to downsize. COURTESYOFEILEENMALLOY