Do you ever get the feeling that all the play time in your life has vanished like a fart in the wind?
I used to play a lot – didn’t we all? Yet it doesn’t seem like so long ago that I would come home from my job at the 7-Eleven, kick back with some beer, and play Guitar Hero. That was my day from about 7:30 to 10:00 in the morning back in 2007, 2008. But since then, the definition of “play” has changed quite a bit.
I didn’t stop playing when I moved to North Dakota – Mme. Ross and I played a lot of Rock Band and Mario Kart (wee–hee!) But that has mostly fallen by the wayside after I transitioned from a 32-hour-a-week job to a 50- to 60-hour job. It eats up my time, both time I can spend with my wife and daughter and time I could be running or writing or dreaming of surfing.
But maybe on the surface it seems like I’m looking at it all wrong. It’s not like I’m enslaved to my job or anything; rather, it’s a trade-off of benefits for work. I get to support my girls, own my home, and squirrel away some retirement savings. I get inexpensive and ineffective health insurance (yes, you’re reading that correctly,) decent dental and great vision insurance – at some point I went and got all growed up.
So where’s the play in that? Well, every day I look forward to going home and getting some time in with my family, even if it’s just a few minutes, which feels like the case lately; my daughter is a year and a half old now, and she’s got that deep, throaty, baby chuckle that keeps me coming back for more. I love making her laugh! I don’t play video games anymore, not really. I miss them, especially Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, Mario Kart Wii, and Beatles Rock Band. Someday, I’ll get back to that; but for now, I must work.
This post was prompted by today’s Daily Post prompt.
Rob's Surf Report 
[…] Misty memories of playtime | Rob’s Surf Report […]
[…] Misty memories of playtime | Rob’s Surf Report […]
[…] Misty memories of playtime | Rob’s Surf Report […]
Today, my play was rock-and-roll on my yoga mat. I went at it like I was five. Unfortunately, my body knew better……but my mind stayed in the play.
😀 very nice. Keep on playing!
Finally figured out how to download the book. Very sorry for the delay. Something crashed on me the first time I tried, or I am an inept user. Probably the latter.
The book? Finding the Path? I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the server – when I paid for mine it wrapped up with no confirmation, and it didn’t get my shipping info – it turns out they got it from PayPal – all in all, a little confusing. Or… Maybe I’m off track!
[…] Misty memories of playtime | Rob’s Surf Report […]
[…] Misty memories of playtime | Rob’s Surf Report […]
[…] Misty memories of playtime | Rob’s Surf Report […]
I hope not!
[…] Misty memories of playtime | Rob’s Surf Report […]
It’s all in the perspective yes?
So the video games have been swapped out for your delightful little girl’s throaty laugh – now that is play! 🙂
Yes, I love it, when she’s not smacking the crap outta me!
Lol — well not at you — but that would be a curious toddler yes? Pull and tug and poke and prod – that’s how we discover the world! 😉
Oh, we’re learning it!