Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for June 16, 2011

And just what’s wrong with not wanting to look like a slob, even when on vacation? I’ll take someone who actually takes a little pride in his appearance (that means combing his hair, shaving, tucking in his shirt, and actually wearing a belt) over someone who constantly sports the “beach bum” look any day of the week, and twice on Sunday!

Socks with sandals: middle age. White socks with shorts and sandals: Elderly.

The female equivalent is a blouse with big flowers in a bright color, and slacks in that color, to match. And white sandals. But yes, it’s past middle age — unless we’re all going to live to be 158.

And BTW there’s NOTHING wrong with it, or with being old. This is just an identification guide. If you say you can tell a leopard by the spots or a chocolate center cream by the little swirl on top, you’re not saying those are BAD things. LOL

No socks with my sandals, ever (and I’ve got the nicely browned-plus-tan-lines feet to prove it. Belt? Always! Shirt tucked in? Almost always—always with my button-down collared shirts, though a polo shirt might be allowed to ride free. And don’t get me started on hats—my Greek fisherman’s cap, most often, but occasionally a white straw for summer…. Rat’s opinion is his alone!

… When you say “I remember the old days when…” is when you’re too old.

I’m 6’-2", 154 lbs, and have a 36" inseam. You won’t see me in shorts, my legs are too skinny.

What’s vacation?

I doubt Goat will ever wear a hat.

If the maximum human lifespan is 120 years, as I was taught, then middle age begins at 40 and runs until you’re 80.

I always wear a hat when I’m out in the sun, but mine is a baseball cap. I also have a cowboy hat, but I don’t wear it that often. I’ve also worn a belt. And when I’m not working, I always wear running shoes. No sandals or flip-flops for me.

Ding Ding Ding Ding!

When climbing the stairs takes you two trips…

Middle age is when you begin to realize that living for someone else’s opinion of you is not really living. I also tell my kids “The definition of cool is doing something you normally wouldn’t do to impress people who don’t really care about you.”

Rat forgot the black socks and sandals to wear while strolling on the beach

all of us “middle-agers” are a bit techy this morning!

Fantastic but please when you send them via EMAIL preserve the colors!! They arrive in B&W most of the time.

The thing to remember is, you shouldn’t care what people think of your outfit so much when you’re on vacation, or away from work. Wear what you want, no matter what others say! Except black socks and sandals. That’s just wrong.

I thought the middle ages were all about wearing armor, tunics and hose…

Crocs?

When you need someone to tell you the view is delightful, you are over the hill.

If Pastis were a little older, he would have included the suspenders…like the Tilly hat though….☻

@WaitingMan I think that was the actual point of this strip—funny how sidelined we get with appearance.

Pfft. I turned 50 back in February, and as far as I’m concerned, 50 is the new 30! :-)

You don’t often see a human standing next to Rat; when you do, you realize how big that rat is, and that’s scary.

“Back in the day….” is another identifier — but only if the speaker is actually old enough to have been around back in the day. :) (When a youngster says it, it’s asinine.)

Funny, I asked this of many people about 15 years ago as a philosophical question. My favorite was “when you can’t stay up and party all night long anymore”. Now I can really relate to that!

“…You know that you’re over the hill When your mind makes a promise that your body can’t fill” from Old Folks’ Boggie

I always thought that middle age arrived with a red convertible.

Or when you have a childhood friend named “Edmund”.

Age is relative. I’m 52 and still get called “young man” by my over 60 friends.

magdala On Feb. 28th I celebrated my 90th birthday, And I still feel middle-aged and enjoy life. And especially Pearls Before Swine. I wear what I feel good with what I wear| Age is relative

I’ve been curious how women view the men with the 2-3 day beard growth and hair in a just-got-out-of-bed tangle. Cool? Phony? Maybe add stinky feet with no socks to absorb the foot yuck.

This is what I call the “Dallas Safari Suit” look. Very common in the summer in the upper middle class part of town.

Dammit, Pastis. You just gave my girlfriend more ammunition in her war on how I dress.

Do not comment about hats, at least I wish you wouldn’t.

Some throwback Pearls Scenery. Me like.

Never. Tuck. A. Shirt. Especially. Into. Shorts.