Jeff Bond

Comments

• Yet there are HD Forum posts active right now that speak of layoffs, the state of retirement in America, and the influence of luck (or lack of same). There are times when it's not because of a choice, but rather situations with outcomes that negatively impact random folks. As has been said here on HD before, we exist in rarified air. For the most part we've grabbed the brass ring and are reaping the benefits. Everyone else (90%? 95%?) is breaking even or struggling. In times like these I like to think of the Golden Rule and wish it was more uniformly applied.

  Post: Retirement in America is not a pretty picture…and not getting better.

  Link to comment from March 20, 2026

• Mark - soapbox is OK. Many years ago, I dealt with a messy (on a lot of levels) divorce. Several sets of friends were there for me in many ways. I told one couple years later how much I appreciated their support, and how much it helped me recover. They said that it was obvious that I was working to get better - in your words "driving life forward". I've seen that in one of my kids. I'm hoping the other one responds similarly to his own current life challenges.

  Post: When Luck Rises, Be Ready to Dig

  Link to comment from March 20, 2026

• Mark - this is a great post. It's not just employment or finances. It's also life in general with social interactions, romance/marriage, friendships, church, and everything else.

  Post: When Luck Rises, Be Ready to Dig

  Link to comment from March 19, 2026

• Olin - when I was laid off in 1994 the company offered a pretty generous out-package and job search counseling. The counselors were not very experienced with technology placements, so they provided little benefit for the engineers. They were pretty much on their own. I've never heard of suicide counseling as part of a separation package, but it makes sense. In a recent medical appointment the intro questionnaire asked if there were ever thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

  Post: America Doesn’t Just Do Layoffs. It’s Fallen in Love With Them

  Link to comment from March 19, 2026

• Raghu - I worked for Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp.

  Post: America Doesn’t Just Do Layoffs. It’s Fallen in Love With Them

  Link to comment from March 18, 2026

• I think, in the second paragraph, it should say "... but far too few workers have accepted that responsibility."

  Post: Retirement in America is not a pretty picture…and not getting better.

  Link to comment from March 17, 2026

• I was laid off or let go twice. The first was when the company had literally no money left and couldn't make payroll. Turns out it was greed. The owner had taken all the cash out of the company when it was making good money. He was a bad businessman and a bad boss. The second time was when my employer's CEO was fired and a new CEO was recruited. The new CEO had to do something different, so he chopped up the engineering organization and dropped headcount. There was no compelling reason beyond a demonstration of the ability to make changes. It was not a happy place to work and I was glad to be out of there. The next job was with a small company that lived hand-to-mouth the entire time I was there. I decided to quit before I was let go. The company lasted another year or so and then dissolved. I had a new job within a month of leaving. My final employer was based in the US but wholly owned by a French company. From 2008 to 2020, there were no layoffs even when the US mortgage/banking collapse provided a reasonable excuse. It was the best job I ever had. Since I retired, some folks have been placed on "performance improvement contracts" and eventually released, so something has changed, but not dramatically.

  Post: America Doesn’t Just Do Layoffs. It’s Fallen in Love With Them

  Link to comment from March 17, 2026

• This is so interesting. Some of my closest friends are my former sister-in-law and her husband. Their kids still call me Uncle Jeff. My former mother-in-law, shortly before she died, told me I would always be her son-in-law. But the only time I communicate with my ex is about the kids, and those communications are fewer and fewer. We now have very little common ground. Hard questions, indeed. There are many I wished I'd thought to ask to prevent the heartache I experienced, financial reversals, and therapy I paid for. Luckily, I came out better (much better!) the second time around.

  Post: Questions Matter

  Link to comment from March 16, 2026

• Mark - you've dialed in the best answer. Those of us who enjoy the challenge, accomplishment, and personal satisfaction associated with exercise are the ones who do it, and continue to do it. I've heard many people say "I don't like to ..." and finally paint themselves into a corner where they do nothing. I've heard many friends mention their "beer can curl", "table push away", and other euphemisms for non-exercise.

  Post: Frugal Fitness

  Link to comment from March 15, 2026

• Ed - This is a great article. Back in 2024 I wrote about my personal exercise and activity level. The article is here. At various times I've also written how, as I approached both knee and hip replacement surgeries, I visited my PT beforehand to discuss recovery and return to "my normal" activity level. Both my surgeon and PT encouraged me to maintain or extend my recovery goals. On days I go to my local YMCA, I use machines rather than free weights. I have also incorporated hip and knee recovery exercises into my typical routine. It is clear that everyone has a different approach to exercise and injury recovery. I have a neighbor in his 50's who plays hockey three nights a week against mostly 20-to-30 year old "kids". One of my best friends plays tennis even in bitterly cold weather. Another acquaintance gets up extremely early each morning to swim before work. I have other friends who do absolutely nothing. Those who do nothing typically start to show it sooner or later.

  Post: Frugal Fitness

  Link to comment from March 15, 2026