Skipping across the Rubicon

Twenty miles southwest of Summit City as the crow flies, but some thirty-one miles along County Route 217, lies Amberfields, the latest in “Adult Community Living”. Heading there in the back seat of Robert’s SUV, Maxfield Porter felt uncomfortable. The SUV rode hard and stiff like a truck and, unlike Max’s Buick, its seat made no effort to conform to his backside. Even the seatbelt, cinched as tight as it would go, did not keep him from rolling awkwardly from side to side as the SUV negotiated the winding county road.

But it wasn’t just the SUV that caused his discomfort. Max Porter, long time resident of Summit City, pillar of the community, Summit City Committeeman, friend to his neighbors and neighborhood, now, at only sixty-nine, felt he had lost control of his life. Others had stronger arguments in the determination of his future. Those things that made him feel comfortable and fulfilled were no longer considered important. The personal security of home and friends offered little compared to the safety and planned living of the mega-community, the everything-done-for-you haven. He became depressed thinking of no longer having to mow the lawn or take the garbage cans out to the curb or paint the front door, all the things one does because it’s the responsibility of ownership and therefore its pride.

Ever since his son and daughter-in-law broached the subject of his moving to an adult community Max had felt a change wash over him. At the mere mention of senior citizen he became defensive and found it difficult, if not impossible, to maintain his amiability, a quality that had endeared Max to all who knew him; his once famous sense of humor seemed lost, and his voice became sharp and waspish: “I don’t know why we couldn’t take my car. It’s a lot more comfortable than this tank of yours. I still don’t understand why you need an SUV. I’ll bet you’ve never even had it in four wheel drive.” It was so unlike him. His comments elicited no response from the front seat.

Max Porter looked over the back of the driver’s seat at his son and saw how tensely he held the wheel. Why is Robert so uptight, he wondered? Didn’t I agree to take a look at the place?

Robert, white-knuckled and silent, drove on.

Max turned and looked at his daughter-in-law. She was facing forward, searching for the turn-off. Sitting directly behind her Max saw only the back of her head, her mannish-cropped auburn hair, drop earrings and thin neck. The view reminded him of the back-of-the-head photographs in Fahrenheit 451. He stifled a laugh and instead asked, “How did you find this place, Jeanne?”

Jeanne Porter swiveled around to face him. Max was conscious of her close-set green eyes and pinched mouth that combined to make an otherwise attractive woman look hard and unforgiving. “A co-worker recommended it. Her uncle took an apartment and he couldn’t be happier. He says the facilities are great and the service is superb; everything is taken care of for you. It’s like living on a cruise ship. You won’t have to worry about a thing. You’ll love it.”

Max wondered how she could be so sure he would love it. He had made his feelings about cruises known often enough: he hated them! And that remark about everything being taken care of was another one of her references to his house. She would never let go, nor would she ever understand. How could she? To her, nothing was as important as moving forward; anything that impeded her mobility was an obstacle to her career goals. That’s why she and Robert lived in an apartment. No house for her, no matter how much Robert wanted one.

But Max’s house represented the happiest, most productive years of his life, where he and Dorothy shared each other, where they planned their business and, from its second mortgage, got the money to start it. With Dorothy gone these past seven years and the business sold, he cherished the house and the memories that lived there with him.

They drove on in silence, Robert wishing it were all over, Jeanne hoping that her father-in-law would see things her way and Max wondering what he was getting himself into.