Having a second job is not a prison sentence!

Last week, Gazette reporter Kate Alexander wrote a really detailed piece about how the recession impacted Montgomery County government employees.  Here is a link to the full article:

http://www.gazette.net/article/20130424/NEWS/130429679/0/gazette&template=gazette.

I’m not going to dispute how hard the recession hit government workers.  I see no point in such a debate (and I’m not suggesting that it is even debatable).  I would, however, like to comment on one thing in the article.  Apparently, to make ends meet during the recession—during the years without salary increases—Alexander reported on a county worker that took on a second job. But here is the problem or rub: the worker working this second job made it sound like having a second job was some kind of prison sentence.

What is wrong with having a second job?

My father was a high school dropout.  The man worked two full-time jobs his entire life.  And when he died he did not die a pauper—he had owned and paid for two homes in his lifetime and the dude had saved up enough cash to send all of his children to college.

I certainly learned the value of having a second job from my dad.  I worked a second job probably through my early 40’s.  I stopped when my spouse was made Vice President at a high-end contracting company.

And I never viewed the extra work from holding down a second job in a negative light.  Ever!  In fact, there was a time when I worked for the Montgomery County Public Schools and not only did I work a regular second job (mostly weekends), but I also worked two consulting gigs.

What is wrong with having a second job?

And the income from my second job helped purchase my Bethesda home (paid for—thank you second job--Bethesda home, best investment ever), sent my children to college (paid in full—kids are debt free—thank you second job), and supported nice annual vacations (Ahhh, Christmas in Paris—thank you second job).

There is nothing was with having a second job!