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I don’t like Ne Year’s resolutions. A resolution is a firm decision to do or not do something and results in a black and white pass or fail. If our intention is to incite change in our lives, there has to be room for error, which is why I like the word “goals.” A goal is the object of a person’s ambition or effort, which means you achieve success every time you make forward progress.
At first glance, the military’s new blended retirement system (BRS) looks like a win for military families. With lump-sum bonuses and 401(k)-style automatic and matching contributions, even service members who don’t serve to retirement will walk away with some savings. Unfortunately, career service members and their families will have to shoulder increased financial decision-making which could leave them facing a much less secure future.
There’s something special about this time of year.
There’s combat-boot footprints of mud in our kitchen. Random winter military clothing piled in seemingly every corner of the house. Faded and mismatched green socks are hung by the chimney with care. MRE’s are roasting on an open fire.
Quite picturesque, yes? Okay, maybe not exactly.
For the better part of three years, we lived in the West Texas border town that is home to Fort Bliss.
I was born and raised in the Piney Woods and attended undergraduate school in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but El Paso is a side of the Lone Star State I’d never seen before we moved there.
As I write this, I’m looking around my current duty station house with the packers scheduled to arrive in less than four days. It’s Dec. 8, and we’re PCSing for our first OCONUS move before Christmas, which means we’ll be living in a hotel over the Christmas holiday.
Every year I tell myself, “I’m going to start my holiday shopping in July!” Every year, I actually start my holiday shopping in December. I shop for my son and husband, nine nieces and nephews, my parents, my in-laws, grandparents, teachers, and other extended family that would make this an incredibly long list. Not only that, I can’t just make a purchase. I have this internal drive that pressures me to ensure the gift will be (at the very least) somewhat liked!
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