While I was busy planning… Life happened.

[STMahlberg]

I guess I should probably get to the point first.

I will no longer be able to participate on the team as I have been or had hoped too. Most of my rigs I will be taking offline in the coming weeks as I prepare to move to a smaller place. Unfortunately, this new place lacks the space for my rigs along with the issues of heat that they generate.

Now for the reason…

I find myself once again having to make difficult decisions that I honestly did not foresee; I had reached a point in my life where it had appeared that the horizon was clear and it was smooth sailing. The position that I have held in our Energy Department along with my time on the job has made me somewhat bullet-resistant but at no time have I been under the illusion that I was bullet-proof.

This past Tuesday not only marked my 48th birthday but also coincided with my 27th year with the county; I started my career as a humble Custodian for 1 year, HVAC for 2 years, Water Treatment for 2 years, Haz Mat for 6 years, Building Engineer for 8 years and now Energy Analyst for 8 years. I planned every move along the way and have increased my pay with every move making 6 times what I did when I started.

This past Tuesday was also the day that I, along with the rest of the Energy Management department, was told that we will probably be replaced in the next 18 months. The bad economy and unemployment rates along with the public’s dislike of government agencies, which have never been higher in history that I can recall, make it a perfect climate for privatization.

Our Operations Department will be the first casualty; 1,600 people will no longer have jobs as of July 1st, my youngest daughter being among them. After that, the Transportation Department along with the Maintenance Department will be the next targeted at which point, our small 15 person Energy Department could be lump summed into those at any time.

I had planned on working for another 8 years with the county at which point I could retire with 35 years of service and maximizing my retirement pay. If I am laid off prior to my 30 years, I have to wait until I am 60 years of age to collect retirement unless I buyout the remaining time of 3 years before being laid off.

Each year costs $21,000 or $63,000 total to buyout now which I am unable to do; so instead of smooth sailing to retirement, it’s now a mad dash to start buying out time before the clock runs out on my job. And at that point, since I won’t make it to 35 years, even though I can retire… I still lose 16.5% on my retirement pay and not even with the decency of a reach-around.

Anything can happen in the next 3 years one way or another; at the moment, I am planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

Okay, I’m done whining… you can put down the pistol.

[Mr. Hankey]

Well, you do what you can do. I hope you get to keep your nice new 3 gpu rig you just finished building, that was quite a pretty build.

[Mike029]

Happy Belated B-Day STM. The rest is terrible news. Hopefully, this economy will turn around before the ax falls. Unless the decision has already been made by the admin.
I wish you and your daughter all the best.

[Zytozux]

Sorry to hear this STM. Wish you and your daughter the best of luck.

[Maxwell]

I'm not advocating this, but this might be the time to call in those girls with guns you are so fond of...

[trigggl]

Wow. I thought we were at the end of this sort of thing. Really sorry to hear about all that. If there's a plus side, it's that you're not being given a 30 minute unannounced escort out of the building like my company likes to do. Good luck and take care of that daughter. You know it's going to hit her hard.

[DrPop]

Unfortunately, we are hardly "at the end". These past two years are the beginning. As our currency devalues due to policies in place currently and in part since the '70s, be prepared for some serious life style adjustments for the majority of our nation. Some will be insulated from effects longer than others...

...STM, you are a top notch guy, genuine and real. I too, hope the right solution presents itself before the ax is laid to the root of the tree. By the way, you have a PM.

[shiva]

STM sorry to hear about your situation, never a good thing to hear. I too have had my thoughts about being bullet proof. While so far nothing like this has happened I wonder why I keep spending the kind of money I do for this hobby. With the conditions in the USA, let alone the world, we could be moved to the dark ages any day. Course what good would money be then. I hope things work out for the better.
Rick

[joker]

@ STM

I know a little about life sucking. I am in the construction trade so the last few years have been rough at best. I still have a "job" but I only worked about 6 months last year so I know about money issues (unemployment does not pay $hit). With that said, I would say this: even if you can not crunch anymore, please stay active in the forums. I for one find them a good way to keep talking to people (helps me not to slip into an even deeper depression) and a general distraction from real life. I spend pretty much every spare nickle on crunching because it gives me a "purpose" and something to keep my mind occupied on something other then how much things suck. So I implore you to not leave us entirely. At least stick around for my dishwasher jokes (or other peoples jokes about me) .

[Maxwell]

@ STM
With that said, I would say this: even if you can not crunch anymore, please stay active in the forums.

Completely agreed. I think we can all agree that we don't care about credits. Take care of yourself first. But as long as you're online, stop on by and hang out with us.

Besides - how many people are going to keep me in line around here? Joker is only armed with his Gummy Bear videos...