Civilian life may not exist for many of us depending on one’s definition of civilian life. 21 years active duty, another 26 working for the army as a department of the army civilian. Then in retirement my friends and neighbors where I live are all either retired military, dependents of the military or those who worked as a contractor for the military. To me a civilian is someone who’s not in the military, not on active duty. I became a civilian when I retired from active duty back in Sep 1986. I imagine a policeman would look at a civilian as being someone not in the police and so on. To me politicians are civilians. They don’t don a uniform.
For jgw, it’s Biden’s choice. I’d prefer he announce his retirement sometime later this year and turn the reins over to a younger generation. I’m not talking old foggies like Warren and Sanders or those who ran before. A fresh, young face. The talent is there between governors and younger senators. But my druthers mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.
No no, you misunderstood what I was getting at.
You're not going to live the rest of your life surrounded by Secret Service agents who are just about stationed outside your bedroom because you're not an ex-President.
Becoming the President is a permanent life altering situation.
An ex-President is unable to just walk out their door and go down the street to some donut shop, or take off on a camping trip and go fishing, or just light out for a stop at a local night spot. Their every move is scrutinized for security risks and their every outing involves an entourage.
Is that your life now after the service? Of course it isn't.
That's what I was getting at. Joe is a gregarious and outgoing personality who thrives on spontaneity and that aspect of his personality, the very thing that made him well liked by his constituents, is forever muted. And so it might be understandable that Joe intends to "die with his boots on" so to speak.
He may despise the alternative option of life in a gilded cage.
