There's one thing worse than getting old - being conscious of it. Those who can afford it try to take a cruise to celebrate they have at last earned the luxury, and those who have always had luxury do so to console themselves, being too old to do much else requiring physical energy, by taking a cruise instead, where they wouldn't appear as the oldest. Most of the passengers in very expensive cruisers are old, who embark on the collective tragedy looking affable and determined to be happy.
Now not only have they left the land behind, but have also freed themselves of being asked to look after the grandchildren. No more need to worry about boring and exhausting day to day living, able to concentrate on just 2 basic needs of the body: fill the stomach with good food and exercise their legs and feet dancing the slow waltz, or gamble away their life's saving in the casino.
Especially for the ladies, the highlight of the cruise is, if they are lucky, selected to sit at the Captain's table, and being able to dress up like a Christmas tree every night just to show off at the dining room. A friend of mine just sent off their parents, to a celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary in a cruiser, as a gift, around the Mediterranean going nowhere in particular. I have never seen a more loving and happier couple in my life.
The wife of my friend said to me it's a waste of money, as the sum spent for 2 weeks would make much better sense to renew their home with brand new furniture and furnishing, as their's were older than my friend who is 44. I asked her whether she will be happier, when at the age of the old couple, both 81, to have new furniture or a vacation in a luxury cruise for a fortnight? She thought it over for a full minute, smiled, threw her arms up in the air, and said "Who's that idiot who suggests new furniture?"
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