Re: No retirement

Krys (et al),

In a message dated 98-11-25 14:07:51 EST, you write:

> As I have gotten older, I have become more concerned about this issue.  I 
>  don't think that I have an option at this point.  I will be closing in on 
>  60 when my daughter gets out of college.  I expect that will take most of 
>  my savings.  While I will never regret my 'late-in-life' child, I would 
>  love to know how I will ever be able to retire.

OOOOOhhhhhhh, this forces (but not your note in particular, Krys):

<<SOAPBOX MODE(*ON)>>

Krys can be excused -- a late-in-life child cannot be anticipated.  Any
"independent" that doesn't have the same situation as Krys and also doesn't
have retirement has absolutely _NO_ excuse.  If you're not charging enough to
fund your own retirement either via 401(k), SEP, or the various financial
vehicles of non-US countries, then you deserve everything you get, IMO.  The
people in the latter instance, those focused on short-term profits rather than
long-term considerations, are the ones that keep _MY_ butt (and everyone like
me) out of town instead of at home with their families where they belong.
Sure, $40-50/hour US sounds like a lot of money when you've been earning half
that or less working for someone else -- until you have to fund your own FICA,
equipment, health insurance, continuing education, administration, supplies,
marketing, and yes, retirement.

Frankly, I'm putting more than twice into my retirement now than I did at the
numerous "real" jobs that I had before.  Unfortunately, I am forced to travel
in order to find the rate to support this due to the large number of people in
the Research Triangle area that are willing to work "on the cheap" for big
money now with no future.  Admittedly, the old adage "an expert is anyone from
out of town with a briefcase" plays some role -- but so many people willing to
sell their future for instant gratification are a much larger part.  What we
really need are more H1-B Visas so that I can sell my house and move into a 1K
square foot apartment with six other families -- yeah, that's the ticket.

If you can't earn enough to provide yourself the same benefits that you'd have
working for someone else, then don't get into consulting/contracting.  Do the
math...
<<SOAPBOX MODE(*OFF)>>

My apologies, but _I_ feel better ;-)...

Dean Asmussen
Enterprise Systems Consulting, Inc.
Fuquay-Varina, NC  USA
E-Mail:  DAsmussen@aol.com

"If you hear a toilet flush followed by the words 'uh-oh', it's too late." --
Unknown Father of a Four-Year-Old
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