Gary is of an age he is within reach of retirement. I like it, since both fathers died five years younger than Gary is now, but just as mid-life makes you aware of your mortality, it also makes retirement very real as well.
Today, Gary was off work, and I got a taste of how it will be when he retires.
He called me at work around 11:30.
“So. I got my haircut.”
“Oh, really?” I said, while typing.
“Yes. It’s good, but not as good as it usually is.” (pause.) “So how’s your day going?”
“Really busy.”
“So I’m going to go get your car inspected. I hope the cops don’t see me. That would be a bummer, getting a ticket for expired tags while I’m driving your car to get inspected.”
“Gary.”
“What, hon?”
“Gary.”
“What? Oh, you’re busy. Okay, bye then.”
Half an hour later the phone rings. “Do you want an oil change with the inspection?
Half an hour after that, the phone rings. “So, the inspection went well. I’m just driving back home now.”
Twitter. Only Twitter will save our marriage after he retires, since I’ll be working another ten years.
9 responses to “Visions of the Future”
50% or more of my parent’s problems of fighting and irritating the hell out of each other are tied to retirement. IF YOU AND OR GARY RETIRE FOR THE LOVE OF FRIGGIN GOD VOLUNTEER OR SOMETHING. OR GET A PART TIME JOB STOCKING SHELVES. and idle mind and unstructured time ARE TOOLS OF THE DEVIL. and twitter, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TWITTER!!!okwhew!! I feel better now. :)vibrator song eh.gaah.
Once you find out what it’s like when you’re both home (it’s harder to ignore a tap on the shoulder than a phone call), you might be working another 20 years.
It’s a space thing. You’re each meant to have your own. No it’s not, it’s a Venn diagram, and the overlap varies according to how things are going, marriage-wise.
Sometimes, the circles don’t even touch.
Mrs. Hall – I think we need to put The Incestous Pandas on the road after we retire. ~Silk – And to think I once complained bitterly he was a workaholic.Big Dot – Oh, his circle will touch my circle, and want to know where my circle is heading when it leaves the room and how long it will be gone. I’m concerned your circles may not be touching now though. Oh! And glad you were on the East side of NZ away from the quake and tsunami!
Oh yes, yet again the earth failed to move for me.
I don’t know whether it’s cute or embarrassing that the news reports are proudly claiming “the world’s biggest earthquake this year!”
I encountered a man who embodies future retired Gary at Dierberg’s today. Then I went inside and spotted a watermelon tenderloin. It all comes full circle.
Big Dot – A 7 point something? I bet your whole island just sloshed around and you barely noticed.Caroline – I just ate the tenderloin and it is a scam! Its an excuse to sell the white part of the watermelon.
A little tip I picked up in the winters – Stop answering your telephone.
Hot Mom – But it might be a crisis! Of course, it always is.