Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for October 31, 2021

Myself, I’m hard at work on my Advanced Crusty Old Farthood…

I don’t really see a problem here. These guys have their boring interests, the women have their boring interests.

Nearer my Ghost to Thee.

If out-of-touch politicians of retirement age would also become invisible in elections, we might have a functional government.

I do hear some people say they are busier in retirement than when they were working and I think they sure as hell must not have had to work very hard in all those years, I had many 10-12 hour days as a fed, now I guess I am a fed=ex.

and somewhat true

It’s been a while, since Trudeau did an open-ended piece like this. People will be talking.

These women have time because these men made money. I’m not sure that troubles me a great deal. If they want to play golf that’s their business.

I wonder if this is a commentary on the fact that men statistically die younger, and the speculation that it may be because they lose their purpose, while their wives find a new purpose.

Women having lives doesn’t make men invisible, and shouldn’t make them resentful, if that is the point. And women have always had rich communication, granted, probably more limited to home and family but still active. What does Trudeau think women do when men are in their corner talking about sports? The way my wife tells it, the place to be was in the kitchen with the granmothers and aunts.

As it ever was.

This is good.

Boston will have a new mayor soon. One of two women.

Let’s wish her good luck and success in her work.

Old -————s never die, they just fade away.

Not sure i get the disappearing act, but i’m with the girls.

Too many good men allow themselves to fade into obscurity just when we need their experiance the most. Glad to see the women stepping up and sharing theirs.

There once was time in this country when you could work 40 hours a week, your spouse did not have to work, and you retired at 60 with a pension. Today 40 hours a week is barely enough to cover rent and food with dual incomes and you’ll likely never retire. That’s the reality of our economy.

It’s not a metaphor. Men become less visible. I’m semi-transparent now. READ A BOOK.

Wow! Women who’ve lived enough to want to not only continue bettering themselves and their communities as well but also in many ways are now “sexist.” That’s pretty darned incredible but does explain a lot about true sexism now, doesn’t it? The worst sexists outted themselves in the most grand and inglorious fashion and yet won’t even see it or ever admit it because to them women should never get the chance to outshine men, no matter what the men decide to do after they simply want a quiet life of retirement out of the spotlight. Classic. Sickeningly and completely self-centered but classic.

Trudeau accomplished his goal splendidly. Well done.

I didn’t have to wait for retirement to become invisible…

Busy? I’m busy buying pink shirts! Lookit this new one.

I wonder if Trudeau is looking at retiring.

My flowered shirt game is getting stale, though. Does Tommy Bahama make a putter?

It DOES imply guys have nothing important to contribute to society after they retire, I’ll give “BE THIS GUY” credit for that. BUT – I’ve noticed (at least in the past and in the present by some men) – when this sort of thing is implied about women, (like if the women here were discussing what shade of mauve is best for a bathroom and saying it is SO important, or something similar) many men AND Women would not say it was sexist – they would think it was funny (or typical of women)…..just a thought….,

Now THIS is a GREAT comic! As Bobby Dylan once said: “Oh, the times they are a-changin’!” The obsolete party will very soon cease to exist, then the other one will too!

And I thought that comics supposed to be funny…

This cartoon is both funny and strikes a bit close to home.

I’ve been retired for about 10 years and have comfortably settled into my routines and perusing interests. My wife is 15 years my junior and not quite ready to face retirement. Indeed, with my encouragement and assistance, she’s pursuing her doctorate degree in Social Services, learning English, helping various neighbors in need, being involved with her own kids and grandkids, being active in her church, etc., etc.

I keep telling her that her star is in the ascendance and it is her time to shine, while I begin to ride slowly into the sunset. It’s a wonderful reversal of roles and a natural progression of life’s cycle!

I don’t understand the idea of retirement having to be productive. It seems to me that it should be devoted to more important stuff.

I miss Trump- not in the White House, but in the comics!

Good grief this is so off the mark for my area of seniors. Mostly they just sit around and compare aches and pains.

Post-menopausal women finding new energies and new interests and making “new beginnings” isn’t universal, but it isn’t uncommon. Much of it has to do with a radically different hormone balance. Men don’t undergo a similar “change;” their hormones keep the same balance as they age, just…less so.

So… Sexist? Perhaps. But not untrue, and as much biologically based as culturally based.

What generation are you addressing here? The baby boomers are now retiring. I am at the end of that gen, and recently retired. I already have two graduate degrees. I have been trying to get part time employment or even a volunteer position, all to no avail! At the moment, I am going out of my mind from being useless. There are just so many books to read in a day, and I fin TV tedious. I play fetch with the dogs, weather permitting, but that has its limits as well. Being divorced removed me from the social group you portray, and as a retired elementary teacher, there really never was a solid social circle there either. I.e. RETIREMENT SUCKS

I was a house-husband for a couple of years when my older wife went back to college, eventually getting a master’s degree. She also had a large family and professionally talented children Even though I had been an electronics engineer, artist, radio writer/producer, and dancer, I did find myself often fading into the background, relegated to the role of photographer, documenting her life. Of course, with my first wife, it had been the other way around. It was not so much “karma” as leading a full life. :)

Interesting.

Are we missing a subtle point Trudeau is making here? These are two older, well off WHITE women, who the norms of US politics would suggest would be Republican, who are active in their communities to support the less well off and interested in prison reform (hopefully for the better, not more chains and whips)? Maybe Mr T is shining a light on the way forward?

Has no one mentioned that the wives do these things to get away from their underfoot, retired husbands?

White Privilege.

Where ?

My wife (65) has become such a busy body, me (68) I just want some bloody peace and quiet, so this is spot on. She’ll enjoy the next 30 or 40 years of my superannuation and insurance…

Elements of truth

Wall Street Man’s wife sounds a bit Skeptical.

But, how would she know? She’s obviously too busy to notice what he is or isn’t doing.

As long as you don’t spend to much time at the 19th hole.

This is my life … husband spends all day staring at his phone. I volunteer, care for pets, kids & an elderly aunt, and have the odd consulting gig. And I dropped 10 lbs.