A goal achieved

Ever since we moved back to the US I've had a kind of secret goal of buying back my retirement for my job. When we left I rolled it to another investment which was doing really, really well and I was happy with that decision. Of course in the intervening years that investment has not been doing so well and the more secure defined benefit retirement was looking like a much better idea. But how to do it?

First, I had to get back to work for the state. That happened in December of 2007. And since then I've been saving money, a little here, a little there, tucking away any small raise or "found" money trying to get enough to buy back the time I cashed in. This year's tax refund put me over the top and that money arrived today.

Not wanting to waste any time, Ralph and I drove right over and met with a counselor who answered all my questions about what I was about to do and I wrote the check!! So now I'm not only back in the system, but fully vested!

And I hadn't really realized it, but it had apparently been weighing on me a bit because once the check was written, with the receipt in my hand it felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. It feels good! And I'm happy!