I recently mused about being able to take a break after finishing the haying at the ranch. We hope to further and strengthen our roots in the place we are “retiring” into. That can take work and play.
There is no doubt about our intentions to live a balanced life: private work and public service; and applied effort and at least periodic reflection and evaluation of our efforts.
This would include “R and R”. My memory said the first “R” meant “rest”. The other “R” variably means “Recreation”, “Recuperation”, or “Relaxation”. Mostly this expression means, time not working. However, many activities or non-activities such as going to a doctor or dentist wouldn’t be considered “R and R”.
Above all, R and R is time where the burden of work is put in the background for the time being. There is a problem with “work that is never done” which is how a lot of farm and ranch time and objectives are characterized.
Going to work after the weekend off is a better experience because of the non-work of the weekend activity.
I realize my perspective is essentially European. Without romanticizing about traditional hunting and gathering cultures, climbing a mountain and hunting for food or just R and R can be a blend of work and play. Picking berries can be enjoyable, but a lot of work (requiring effort while the fruit is ripe). When the fruit is small, the effort must be greater to harvest food for winter.
We don’t do as much gathering as we once did because we don’t have the energy level to sustain the activity.
I don’t have much knowledge about some of the large immigrant populations, say from Asia or the Middle East. But I do l know that they give the descends of the earlier settlers (us—my generation's offspring) cause to reflect they are willing to take the low-paying jobs in fast food, truck driving, pumping gas, services to people in health care.
And, increasingly, non-European people are qualifying for professional jobs and other knowledge work. I recall that most of the expert commentators of the recent pandemics had non-European names. I dare say, it was hard work for them to achieve the status required to be recognized as experts in their field.
My viewpoint comes from my education and experience developing a ranch alongside others who liked the work we needed to do to develop a ranching business.
For years, when I felt I needed a break for example when we were training “workhorses” (heavy draft horses) starting a colt or young horse was recreation, not work. But that was the business we were in. Training horses is work in that one must apply oneself to the time needed to fulfill the training. Liking the work is helpful to getting it done.
Building the “R and R” into one’s lifestyle can be a challenge. If we can do it we should be grateful.
And if we can instill in young people the joy of work we will go a long ways to preparing them for employment which requires real work.
