The eighth year began with an unexpected challenge that tested the resilience program’s maturity in ways Elias hadn’t anticipated—a global supply chain crisis triggered by cascading disruptions in manufacturing, shipping, and logistics networks. The crisis began with labor strikes at major ports, escalated through manufacturing shutdowns in key industrial regions, and compounded with transportation fuel shortages that created ripple effects throughout international trade networks.For infrastructure operations, the supply chain crisis meant critical components became difficult or impossible to obtain. Replacement parts for power systems faced six-month delivery delays. Water treatment chemicals arrived sporadically or not at all. Communications equipment orders were canceled as manufacturers prioritized larger contracts. Construction materials for remaining resilience projects became scarce and expensive.Elias convened emergency meetings with sector coordinators to assess vulnerabili

The first weeks of January unfolded with disorienting slowness. For nine years, Elias’s days had been structured by demanding schedules, urgent priorities, and constant engagement with complex challenges. Now his calendar was empty except for items he chose to add. The sudden absence of external structure and imposed urgency created strange mixture of relief and restlessness.He spent the initial days attending to long-deferred personal matters—medical appointments postponed during intensive work periods, home maintenance projects neglected while focusing on city infrastructure, financial planning that had received minimal attention beyond basic necessity. The tasks were satisfying to complete but felt trivial compared to the work that had consumed recent years.Sarah observed his restlessness with amused understanding. “You’re struggling with retirement even though you’re only fifty-three and this isn’t really retirement—it’s career transition. You’ve defined yourself through work fo