It's always intriguing how our conversations meander to all sorts of interesting topics. I tried growing a mustache once as an act of independence. While I was serving in the Army [1970 or so], I had a temporary duty assignment that attached me to a German missile unit that was stationed on the island of Crete as part of a NATO exercise. While we had military duties to perform, we didn't have the same military discipline that I had been used to and I took that 6 week assignment as an opportunity to grow a mustache. It was in many ways more of a bother than it was worth, but it did make me look older [I had a baby face and was asked for proof of age in bars until I was in my 30's. Now I'd generously tip anyone who asked
]. Kept it for a few years thereafter but I guess I just got tired of trying to keep it trimmed evenly.
I'm just as glad that Ruff and I have never met in person. Her "YUCK" description pretty much summed me up every working day of my professional career, when dress down day meant leaving the vest on my 3 piece suit at home. The things you need to do to make a living and support a family. I've tried to compensate for that since retirement by wearing shorts and a polo or t shirt in summer and a sweater and jeans in the winter.