Living and working in the Foreign Service is a tricky business. Things are always in motion. People moving in and out of your lives, you’re moving around, you’re planning around moves, you’re planning future moves, and you’re still doing your job on the ground in your current post, literally through to the day that you depart for your next assignment.

I touched in a previous post how important it is to keep yourself planted in the present, because it really is. There is no sense obsessing over the future at the cost of enjoying what is happening in an around you right now. BUT in this lifestyle, you really better have one eye on the future.

In my case, I am roughly 8 months away from leaving my current assignment and transitioning to my next assignment in Rangoon. However, I am also roughly a year away from learning my 3rd assignment. This draws me to my point about keeping an eye toward the future. Although I still haven’t wrapped up my first assignment, I already have to start the prep and research on where my family and I might want to go for our 3rd assignment. Considering I will be mid-level bidding this go-round, my options are much wider, so my blanket of research is much more extensive. I also don’t want to be arriving and learning a new post while also having the crush of bidding and research occupying my time as I settle in.

Nearly every region of the world is an option, post options come in all sizes, from thousands of people working there to just a dozen. Some are co-located with other providers, most aren’t. Some have incredible internationally recognized schools but might be in less desirable locales, some desirable locales have mediocre schools. Some schools start their year at different times than others, which could be awkward for my kids entering the year at a weird phase. Should I consider the weather? What about pollution? What about regional travel? What about salary differentials? What about spousal employment?

All of these variables are factoring in, and it really does take a lot of time to research all of these things, and weigh what we value more. I know some people don’t really stress the bidding process and just let the cards fall as they will, but I am someone that likes to be prepared for every eventuality, especially when it impacts my family. Perhaps when my kids are out of the house and things like schools don’t matter I will take a more cavalier approach.

Outside of the actual bidding process, I think it’s also important to keep an eye on your overall career. 20 years is considered a full career, eligible for pensioned retirement in the Foreign Service. If you think about it in terms of assignments, most folks will have roughly 7-10 assignments in a 20 year career. Within that, if you want to be promoted to the highest tiers of the service, it’s basically mandatory that you serve a tour in Washington D.C. Well, when is it best to time that career wise? What about for your family? D.C. is really expensive to live in and you don’t get free housing like you do abroad. Would it be better if my kids were older and I could rent a smaller place when they’re out of the house, or should I try and line a D.C. assignment up for when my kids are in high school so I can guarantee a great education for them? Should I just not go for higher promotion levels and just stay abroad forever?

Again, so many variables. People might be reading this and think I am ridiculous for thinking this far ahead, but the reality is, the decisions today have a ripple effect down the road. If it was just me, I likely wouldn’t be so OCD, but when every decision I make impacts the lives of the 3 people I love the most, I am going to give it some thought.

I am going to enjoy my last several months here in Mauritania, but I am definitely making sure I keep an eye looking toward the future at all times. – Nick