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APRIL 2018
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Anything’s Possible
WHY I LOVE MARCH MADNESS
“Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” –Jim Valvano
Though they didn’t wind up winning it all, South Carolina’s shocking series of victories reminded me of one of my favorite underdog teams of all time: the 1983 NC State Wolfpack. Coached by Jim Valvano, they entered the tournament as a sixth seed. In the championship game, they were pitted against a fearsome Houston squad that featured Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Nobody, myself included, expected them to put up much of a fight. I certainly wasn’t anticipating that last-second alley- oop to give the Wolfpack the title. I don’t think Valvano was expecting it either. After the game, he was so overcome with excitement that he ran around looking for somebody to embrace. Moments like this are what March Madness is all about. I think the reason why these upsets resonate so much with me is because I work with underdogs every day. Federal employees, despite their education and commitment to public service, are often unfairly maligned. People talk about government spending, budgets, and the deficit in abstract terms, often forgetting the impact these policies have on people working for the public good. A lot of my clients are people who could be making a lot more money in the private sector,
but they have chosen to work for the government out of a desire to make the world a better place. That’s why I get so frustrated when we expect our federal employees to constantly adapt to a changing rule set governing everything from their benefits to their programs. Imagine if a basketball team had to deal with the hoop being moved multiple times throughout a game. That’s essentially what’s required of federal employees. And yet, they persevere. Like a scrappy team going up against a national powerhouse, our federal employees use determination and willpower to overcome a lack of resources and a constantly changing employment environment. As I sat down to make my picks this year, I couldn’t help but wonder which underdog would end up becoming America’s darling. I always pick a 5/12 upset (they usually seem to happen), but I also try to guess which low-ranked team will become 2018’s version of South Carolina or NC State. Regardless of how my bracket turns out, I know I’ll come away from the NCAA Tournament with some indelible memories. –Ann Vanderslice
Basketball has always been my favorite sport to watch, and I look forward to the NCAA Tournament every year. Nothing beats those first few days of March Madness, when the games last all day and incredible plays happen when least expected. Because of the one-and-done nature of the tournament, anything can happen and it usually does. IMAGINE IF A BASKETBALL TEAM HAD TO DEAL WITH THE HOOP BEING MOVED MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT A GAME. THAT’S ESSENTIALLY WHAT’S REQUIRED OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES . As the tournament progresses into the later rounds, there’s usually one team that makes a surprise run deep into the tournament. Last year, that team was South Carolina. I always end up rooting for the team that’s the Cinderella story. In 2017, the Gamecocks were that team. As they marched through Duke, Baylor, and Florida on their way to the Final Four, I couldn’t help but get excited.
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4 Passports and Counting When Jane Haddock sees her friends debating whether or not they should retire, she offers some succinct advice. “Just do it,” she says. “People agonize over whether it’s the perfect time or if they’ll enjoy retirement. You’ll never be able to know for sure, so you have to make the jump to find out.” Jane’s incredible retirement adventures are proof of just how fun and rewarding life after work can be.
JANE HADDOCK’S GLOBE-TROTTING RETIREMENT
their winter home in Houston, but their ecosystem has been put in danger through disasters like Hurricane Harvey and various oil spills.” While there, Jane monitored the cranes’ access to food and shelter. She might’ve been there to watch birds, but she couldn’t help but notice the effect Harvey had on Houston’s human residents. “Even months after Harvey, there was still a great deal of devastation,” she observes. “It made me realize that there’s still a lot of work to do, and it also made me take stock of the precious nature of life.” It goes without saying that Jane is making the most of her retirement, but that wouldn’t have been possible without diligent planning. “I first heard Ann’s name from one of my managers,” she recalls. “I attended some of her seminars and always came away impressed. As my retirement grew closer, I met with Ann and her team to set up a game plan.” That plan has allowed Jane to get the most out of retirement, throughout the year and around the globe. Jane is busy planning her next adventure, with a trip to Indonesia on the horizon. In the meantime, she’ll be content to weave, daydream, and live every day to the fullest. Jane is proof that retirement is far from boring. When it’s done right, it can be the most exciting time of your life.
Unlike many of her friends, Jane didn’t hem and haw over retirement. In fact, she retired as soon as she was secure enough to do so. “I’ve always saved with an eye toward my post-work life,” she notes. “As soon as I knew that I was in a position to retire, I did it, and I’ve never regretted that decision.”
Jane on her first bicycle trip in Spain
Jane knew that she’d use her life after work to pursue her passions. Chief among them are travel and textiles. She’s an avid weaver and embroiderer, and she’s even figured out a way to combine her two passions. “I love traveling to places with a rich history of textiles,” she enthuses. “I’ve been to an indigo dyeing workshop in Japan and taken trips to Morocco and Guatemala, two countries with incredible fabric cultures.” Her travels aren’t always weaving-related, though. Soon after retiring in July 2015, Jane got herself a retirement present in the form of a biking trip through Spain. Traveling was a part of her life long before she stopped working, and she’s been grateful to have more spaces on the calendar to fill. “I’m the type of person who always took her vacation days,” she states. “Whenever I have the chance to add some stamps to my passport, I’m happy. Retirement has given me a greater opportunity to do that.” Some of her trips have been in service of helping out great causes. A passionate nature-lover, Jane traveled to Houston with Earthwatch to monitor whooping cranes this winter. “There are only a few hundred whooping cranes in North America,” she says. “They make
Jane in Morocco
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Don’t Miss Out on the Benefits of Pets
We tend to picture energetic dogs and cats thriving in young families with children, but animals are often happy to live with older, less active adults. These kinds of homes are especially suited to older animals that might otherwise have to spend their last days in the pound. Depending on your schedule and mobility, you might not want to adopt a large dog. However, small lap dogs, cuddly cats, and even birds can make a great addition to your home and your life. As long as you do not suffer from allergies, having a pet can be great for your health. The American Heart Association says pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, may be linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers found evidence to support this claim when they discovered that registered dog owners in Sweden had lower rates of cardiovascular disease and a lower risk of death than individuals without dogs.
Caring for a pet takes work, but for many people, the benefits greatly outweigh the challenges. An energetic dog encourages you to leave the house and go for walks, a talkative parrot makes time spent alone less lonely, and a soft cat curled up on your lap helps alleviate a stressful day. If you can’t have a pet in your home due to lease restrictions or mobility challenges, you don’t have to miss out on the benefits of being around animals. Consider volunteering at a local animal shelter. You can help care for cats, dogs, and other animals while they wait for their own forever home. There are thousands of pets in shelters across the country waiting for someone to care for them. If there’s room in your retirement plan, why not invite one into your home? You might discover both you and your new friend have something to gain.
Physical fitness is far from the only benefit of pet ownership. The love and companionship our animal friends offer can alleviate depression or loneliness. Linda Anderson, founder of the Angel Animals Network in Minneapolis, says, “Older pet owners have often told us how incredibly barren and lonely their lives were without their pet’s companionship, even when there were some downsides to owning an active pet.”
Train Your
BRAIN!
ROASTED ASPARAGUS With Lemon Breadcrumbs
Recipe inspired by Food and Wine Magazine
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped • 2 teaspoons lemon zest • Juice of one lemon (not packaged lemon juice)
• 2 pounds asparagus • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper • 2 garlic cloves, minced
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 425 F. Toss asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet and bake for 20–26 minutes, turning asparagus halfway through. 2. When asparagus is nearly done, heat remaining olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and fold in parsley and lemon zest. 3. Transfer asparagus to serving platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and top with breadcrumb mixture.
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issue INSIDE THIS
The Eternal Power of the Underdog PAGE 1
Retirement Is Far From Boring for Jane Haddock PAGE 2
Do Pets Fit Into Your Retirement Plan?
Roasted Asparagus With Lemon Breadcrumbs PAGE 3
3 Places to View Natural Wonders PAGE 4
ONE-OF-A-KIND NATURESCAPES
BIOLUMINESCENT PLANKTON IN JAMAICA
NORTHERN LIGHTS IN SCANDINAVIA One of the most elusive natural wonders, the Aurora Borealis, can only be seen on dark nights in the most northern parts of the world. That makes Sweden and its Scandinavian neighbors a great place to see this phenomenon. From December through April, you’ll have your best chance of seeing the northern lights. Sightings are dependent on solar activity, so it’s impossible to predict the exact timing and location, but the longer, darker nights of winter and early spring provide a higher likelihood of a sighting. Eco tip: Book your trip through a responsible travel company, such as those that practice a fair- trade policy.
If you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, you might see rare sights that tickle the imagination — baby turtles scuttling toward water, glowing lagoons, or a shimmering sky. But when and where do you need to be to catch these natural wonders? Beach, which gets its name from the many turtles that nest along its shores. During late spring and summer, the waves subside, allowing turtles to crawl onto the beach to lay their eggs. Baby turtles hatch at night and make their way to the water by the light of the moon. If you do head to the beach at night to see this spectacle, don’t use white light, as it can disrupt the turtles’ progress (that means no flash photography). Eco tip: Look, but don’t touch! It’s illegal to touch a sea turtle in Hawaii. SEA TURTLES HATCHING IN HAWAII On Oahu’s North Shore, head to Turtle
Imagine looking out at the water as the sky gets dark and seeing it turn a bright, glowing blue. That’s the sight you might be treated to at the Luminous Lagoon in Jamaica, where dinoflagellates, microscopic organisms in the water, lend their glow to the lagoon. These tiny organisms thrive in areas where salt water and fresh water meet, making the lagoon in springtime an ideal place to see them. Eco tip: To ensure this magical sight will remain for years to come, always go with a “pack it in, pack it out” mentality. Take all of your belongings with you when you leave and be respectful of the beautiful environment that is yours to enjoy.
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