Dad n’ Me: Unemployed for different reasons, but getting through it just the same

I’ve always been a bit of a daddy’s girl. Ever since my first days on this planet, he and I have shared a special, indescribable bond. I remember giggling at Monsterpiece theater together, sharing an unusual love for burnt popcorn and racing each other down the slopes at Heavenly (the bunny slopes, of course). Then adolescence reared its ugly head. I wouldn’t say the bond ever broke, but it definitely took a beating.

But now, thanks to my involuntary unemployment and his voluntary retirement, we are kindred spirits once again. We connect over a whole new set of interests, priorities and daily rituals. Here’s just a handful of our new found commonalities:

Window Shopping: Our guilty pleasure of the week is an afternoon of casually perusing our respective retailer of choice. For him, it’s Fry’s Electronics. For me, it’s Target. The inventory may be different, but the gratification is the same. And there’s really no need to buy anything. Just being in the presence of such greatness is enough (for my dad, greatness comes in the form of Norton Antivirus 2009, and its sneaky competitors).

The $10 haircut: Spending $60 on a haircut is absurd. My dad knew this long before he retired. I was slower to catch on. Now we both patronize Happy Cuts. And given that I have a lot more hair than he does, I like to think I’m the one getting more bang for my buck.

An eye on the Dow: He follows the stock market’s mood swings because he’s invested in it. I follow the stock market’s mood swings because they provide fodder for this blog. Yeah… it’s a lot less funny to him.

A Lunch Ritual: Every week, he sets aside one day for a nice, leisurely lunch with his brother. Every week, I set aside one day for a nice, leisurely lunch that doesn’t come out of the freezer or consist solely of condiments. Whether or not I have company is beside the point.

Habitual Computing: Each day, he spends hours playing solitaire on his desktop. I think for him, it’s a form of therapy. Each day, I spend hours traveling to the end of the internet and back. I think for me, it’s a form of madness.

An Appreciation For Saving: All those years he tried to teach me to budget, and I arrogantly laughed in his face. Who’s laughing now?? He got to retire early, and I’ll have to work till I’m dead.