Shared Illusions

A few days ago Paula and I spent a better part of an hour trying to decide whether to spend an extra hundred dollars to take the direct ferry to Montevideo, rather than the ferry/bus combination that takes three hours longer. Since we were having problems booking the trip on line we went to the ferry company and purchased the direct service. Afterwards we were heading to the subway station for an afternoon of touring a park. As we walked we passed a young couple sleeping on the sidewalk while their toddler aged child amused himself in between them. I was reminded how fortunate we are to be middle class retirees from the US.