I just read an article about something I’ve often wondered about. On the days when I need to take off from work to go see the doctor or have a plumber visit, I see so many people out and about. Who are these people who are idle during normal work hours? It’s a pretty interesting article.

By rights our parks and movie theaters and stores should be minor ghost towns between 9 and 5 — chanced upon by the occasional tourist or late-night bartender but otherwise peaceful. Instead, they’re inexplicably packed. I didn’t doubt that the packers had sound explanations. I just wanted to hear them.

Tourists, disabled folks, freelance writers, self-employed, etc. That’s what the answer is. And apparently, there’s a heck of a lot more of those people than I would have guessed.