This was a row that had simmered for years but hadn\u2019t yet been defused. It was an underground river of molten lava that threatened to erupt but, apart from the odd burps of hot magma, remained sluggishly subterranean and unacknowledged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The accelerant was the proposed retirement, in five years\u2019 time, of Joan and Hywel. Each had busy and fulfilling jobs \u2013 which had masked their need to discuss points of incompatibility and irritation. However, they were both keen to leave the worlds of work for the worlds of\u2026..well this was the main problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Hywel was already busy compiling his bucket list of post work possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I\u2019ve booked a taster session with the hang gliders. They need more members and it sounds great, floating over the earth, wind in my face\u2026.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joan was unimpressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Look I\u2019ve nothing against you jumping off a cliff, but isn\u2019t it a bit soon to start intensive retirement planning?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Well what do you think makes for a good retirement, then?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I would like,\u2019 Joan said thoughtfully, although she hadn\u2019t got far with any plans, \u2018to do a bit of travelling, catch upon on all the reading time I\u2019ve missed, maybe take my cello playing to a higher level, perhaps do some writing for fun instead of for work reports, join a walking group…\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Hm, sounds like more of the same to me. Where\u2019s the excitement in that?\u2019 Hywel was rather anxious about the prospect of filling his bucket list with sensational and possibly scandalous things to do, but felt he needed to take a stand when it came to innovation and thrill seeking. \u2018I\u2019ve also booked up for several \u2018experience\u2019 days. Hot air ballooning and caving first of all \u2013 see if they suit.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018OK, fine.\u2019 Joan was visibly irritated. \u2018So you\u2019ve got a bucket and a list in it. No reference to my bucket and my list. We have separate buckets and separate lists. Maybe we need to consider separate lives? In fact, if I\u2019m honest, top of my list is a move to France \u2013 a small place in the Normandy countryside, maybe a few chickens and definitely a couple of dogs for company.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hywel hid is shock to some extent but Joan\u2019s move was almost at the point of checkmate. \u2018France, yes, we had some lovely holidays, but uprooting?…\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joan had the high ground. \u2018Well it\u2019s an exciting idea and since we seem to be compiling separate bucket lists, why not separate lives in separate countries?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Are you saying we should divorce?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I\u2019m saying that everything is on the table and open for consideration. Let\u2019s look at our options. Let\u2019s talk for once. You want thrills like hang gliding, I\u2019m keen on pastoral simplicity. Why compromise?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hywel drooped in his chair. He needed to rethink the contents of his bucket. He couldn\u2019t quite figure out why it seemed to be leaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Anyhow,\u2019 Joan was guiding proceedings with some confidence at this point, \u2018we don\u2019t retire for 5 years, plenty of time to get plans ironed out.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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