Wednesday, February 19, 2014

It's 5 o'clock somewhere

Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
Now that my husband and I are retired and traveling full-time, he never wears a watch anymore. Every time I ask him what time it is, he never knows. He wore a watch for 40 years. Wouldn’t you think that would establish a habit? He says he doesn’t care what time it is anymore. That sounds cute, but having a watch doesn’t necessarily put you on a schedule. Am I being silly? Do all retirees dispose of their timepiece? I thought the old tradition was to receive a gold watch when you retired.
--Timed out in Tucson

Dear Tucson:
This sounds like an easy fix. Buy yourself a watch. I think it’s time for a change. If he has been the timekeeper for 40 years, you do the next 40 then switch. I don’t know where the tradition of getting a gold watch at retirement started. I know my dad received one from the telephone company. Today retirees are just happy if they get their pension. Actually, a watch is not as common as it used to be. Some kids can’t even tell time if it’s not digital. Like so many other devices - cameras, GPS, flashlights, radios, and calculators are all being replaced with Smartphones. Retirees now should get Golden Google Glasses or at least a Smartwatch. I think one of you should carry the time. You don’t want to miss cocktail hour. Of course, it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere!
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree. Buy your own watch. The problem isn't that your husband doesn't know the time. The problem is you don't know what time it is and think that somehow it's his problem to fix.

Anonymous said...

I allways thought of a watch as being like a mother as it allways told me to be at a certain place on time.

Anonymous said...

Lol, good answer. I'm one of those that will be happy to get my pension (that is no longer company funded...) if I am fortunate enough to get another 10 years without getting RiF'd.

Anonymous said...

Quite surprised she could not figure out the obvious solution to this predicament!

Ron Lane said...

I too, upon retirement, removed my watch and have never put it back on. If and when I do find the need to know what time it is, I look at my cell phone...but even then it's a rarity. The same goes with the day of the week....who cares?

Anonymous said...

Neither my husband nor I have worn a watch for over 40 years - even during our working years. Keeps one more free that way. There certainly are enough clocks around to keep you on track. Also, without a watch on your wrist, you learn to develop an innate sense of the current time. BTW, the only time we set an alarm was to make sure we didn't miss our flight when going on vacation,

Anonymous said...

There are too many gadgets to tell us the time, if someone whats to know. My husband wears a watch out of habit even if it's not working, (which has been the story for a month now). If I ask him what time it is he tells me to buy a watch.
So I tend to look at my cell phone if I want to know the time. So my advice is buy your own watch.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Ron Lane. And there are a lot a ways to find the time with out a watch on your wrist. And at this point in our lives who really cares. It is a nice freedom to have. She should get herself a watch and that would take care of the her problem.

Anonymous said...

I retired five years ago and stopped wearing a watch. I use my phone if I need to know the time. Then just this Christmas my husband bought me a beautiful watch. So I wear it if I am going out. So much for not wearing a watch!

Jerry X Shea said...

Forget the time of day - what "day of the week" is it anyway? We bought one of those "day of the week" clocks - can't begin to tell you how many times we have to look at to see the day. As for a clock, also have a small one. As for "what time is it?" There is a clock in the car, on bank signs, on my cell phone, notepad and computer - don't need one on my wrist - took it off in my 20s. Never missed a business appointment.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Ha! My wife and I collect old clocks and watches. We have 30 clocks in our house that date from the civil war to about the 1950's. It's a cacophony in our house on the hour. We each have about three DOZEN watches from the 1920's to about the 1950's. Her oldest is 1917! We can't imagine being in our motorhome with out them. How would you know when it's time to give the dog his insulin, or how long it's been since he went out to "do his thing?"