Years ago, Kings and I struck a bargain:
After marriage, whichever of us made less would switch career paths.
(We didn’t think both of us on the “sell side” of investment banking would a marriage make – we’ve had bosses who loathe and say horrible things about each other in the market – and when they find out we’re married they say even horrible-er things about each other to us.)
With Rockstar comes a new clause: One of us brings home the bacon, the other has to make sure no one eats too much of it.
Every year Family Inc. organizes an offsite bonding experience with our key client (Rockstar). AUD 190 gets you a really nice house in a small town with washing machine, DVD player (very important for Kings), microwave, fireplace, sometimes an outdoor Jacuzzi.
Last stop in Mount Martha – House We Can Afford Only In Our Dreams If It Were In Hong Kong (Perfect Panorama)
Watched videos every night under that roof and next to that fireplace. Rockstar mostly read, ate, jumped on the bed…
Like so…
And complained it was cold on the huge upper deck with jacuzzi and picnic tables (it was – 6-9% Celsius)
Family, the raising and caring of, is Family Inc’s not-so-secret-recipe product. We tend it, not unlike the way residents of Mount Martha, Mornington, Redhill, Dromana and countless other small towns we randomly pass through lovingly tend their wineries and gardens. And, directly or indirectly, we allocate duties and responsibilities, the way someone might run your average small company with a JD (job description) on hand.
Family Inc’s three shareholders will play house somewhere in Australia or New Zealand for up to 3 weeks, staying in a serviced apartment where they:
1. Do their own dishes and laundry
(The only reason this bears mentioning is because many of our friends with kids prefer to bring a helper)
2. Order their own takeout
(Ok fine, we do cook on occasion – Kings does a mean Chinese restaurant style chilli crab)
3. Drive around in a rented car, exploring wine and farm country straight out of a Jane Austen novel.
(Or, from Key Client’s point of view, Enid Blyton.)
4. Behave like a couple with a child
(Kings and I used to hang up on each other during market hours when we both worked, and til today I rarely call him at work, sending emails only occasionally)
5. Fight.
We usually have one good one. Not of the “why don’t you pick up your socks” variety, the kind about Big Things That Can Potentially Destroy A Marriage. Strong emotions, baggage, crying, BAGGAGE.
In the next few days the weeds would have been unceremoniously yanked out by their roots and left to wither in harsh sunlight that doesn’t allow dark places for creepy things to grow.
Raising Rockstar raises other issues too. How you want to bring up your children is always a biggie when you’re such different people.
Ps: Family Inc. prides itself on the involvement of Key Client in all aforementioned offsite bonding activities, with the exception of Item 4.
