Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for August 12, 2020

But who’s gonna take him?

Shouldn’t you be used to those kinds of looks, Calvin?

Considering their lives consist chiefly of reacting to Calvin’s antics, how much simpler could they be?

How odd, Calvin

they actually live a pretty simple life, and it drives Calvin crazy.

Calvin doesn’t bring “Joy” to their lives.

Thoreau predates Marie Kondo by more than a century.

Give him a haircut!

Simplifying is not possible in this days, nobody can do it, if you are ill, old or nearly dead!!

I’ve long been a student of H. D. Thoreau. He was a well enough liked fellow, but he never married and never had children. Kept it simple. I’ve done likewise. It’s very good. What’s more, I also believe that the best thing I ever did for my children was to not have them.

If you love something set it free. If it doesn’t come back it’s a bonus.

Oh, Oh…

Calvin, we all are thankful that your parents are pro-life!

LOL! Calvin knows something’s up—-and it’s probably not good for him.

If Thoreau had really meant it, he would have just said “Simplify”.

I think this is what is called a “Better shape up” moment.

This family transport through life is overweight and it is time to jettison the excess baggage and anything that is expendable so that we can simplify. Now, let’s think.

Which kid if any will give the best prospective return on investment? Line ‘em up and let ‘em make their pitch to stay or do they go.

Calvin, the anti-Thoreau.

Calvin lives simply since it does not take much to entertain him.

And on such a nice stroll by too.

Bill you get Best “Cartoon Of The Day Award” again! And I’m sure everyone would agree we don’t even need to see the rest.

Bill, can you please send Calvin to live with trump for the rest of trumps life as partial payback for what he’s done to us and the rest of the world.

This may be the only literary or historical reference in all of C&H.

Send him to Stone Soup. Jan won’t have to deal with him.

Simplifying is what I call “settling to the bottom.” People tend to want a simpler, easier life, but that is not compatible with a rich one. When I was working my life grew new complications every month or so. It wasn’t good for my health as I aged but it was good for my soul. I lived for the calls that told me I had only one priority until I got a tough problem fixed, or that some other wonderful challenge had presented itself. I am still trying to find the balance that works for me in my sundown years (decades, I hope!) but at least I have the memories and some wild “war stories.” Je ne regrette rien.

Getting rid of Calvin is simply the simplest way of simplifying…

Send him to summer camp, move.

Kids: Eighteen years of voluntary servitude.

“Well, lookie here…he’s catching on!” ~ from the movie “Fallen”

Calvin you create new experiences for parents.

Cruel.

I heard someone say Thoreau only should have said ‘simplify’ once.

I know the feeling. I got it alot before I got ’laid off".

“Mom, am I adopted?”

“Not yet.”

“I wonder how many stamps it would take to mail a 45 pound package to Abu Dhabi?” ☺

One of my favorite C&Hs…The (sometimes|) ambivalence of parenthood.

We tried leaving them at the park. Then, at the mall. We even tried Disneyland. But, they always tracked us down.

And here I thought it was William of Ockham.

My son’s 34. Is it too late for adoption?

that six year old which happen to be your offspring is worth millions of smiles across the world. why whine. time to rejoice.

That’s a sweet Kitchen Table Conversation by a married couple who love each other, quietly sharing a concern. And, see? They both came to the same conclusion: We shoulda gotten a dog.

shouldn’t thoreau have said, “simplify” once instead of twice?

Calvin could be a good kid if mom and dad weren’t so laid back and would discipline Calvin more than just go stand in the corner forever.

I think Dumpster is having the same feeling right now….

I don’t like the way they look at Calvin either. I would take Calvin and Hobbes and be thrilled to have such an adventurous child with a wild imagination.

Just turn him loose in the wild. He’ll be fine, as long as he has Hobbes to hunt for food.