Caution Sign

Seriously, I've been re-reading around since when Marten and Claire started becoming an item a couple times over the last week or two, which also included Dora and Tai getting more serious + Faye and Bubbles + Tilly (first nb character in the strip afaik?) + etc, and it's just so gratifying to see!

Den

I distinctly remember saying at 15 or 16 that my dream job would be retirement. that was decades ago (hint, Ronald Reagan was not yet president). I've had a career or 2 and several jobs. looking forward to that retirement. not long now.

Joe

37??!!

Joe

only one thing scarier than a girlfriend with ambition & that's a girlfriend with ambition on your behalf. be afraid, Marty ...

Joe

"It's NOT a picnic by the river, it's a waterside supper with riparian entertainments!" (Hyacinth Bucket, "Keeping Up Appearances," season 5, episode 4, "Riparian Entertainments.") Steering IS controlling, and like Hyacinth's water-side supper, it's going to back-fire hilariously.

OldGoat

have you received enough love and hi-fives and heck-yeas for being so freaking awesome to include people of all sizes and genders and stuff? because it rocks. my. socks. off.

Hronn Holmer

I think she wants him a track to ANY career.

Vince Averello

The best advice I ever got is that it's OK to just have a steady paycheck with reasonable hours so you can have time to do what you really want to do without the pressure of having it make money for you.

And a wedge is different than a putter and a wood

Dancing on the Edge of Sanity

A good relationship is not just made from what you both can like, but what you both can endure..... https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1715

Dancing on the Edge of Sanity

Uh-oh. This sounds vaguely familiar.

Joseph Houk

Professional-level instrument repair is also very finicky, and can be pretty dirty and painful. Woodwinds will make you bleed if you're not very careful. Pointy little springs.

Noise

She not necessarily saying, "Here's what you need to go down that path. Do it. Now." It might be more of a, "Let's take a look at you would need to start down that path. You don't have to jump right into it, I just want you to know your options."

Czarzhan

Ooh, we finally get *this* conversation. (IIRC, I predicted it would happen eventually, back when they started dating, due to their respective personalities.)

Eric Rucker

No, a 2 club is different than a putter.

BobC

Like Seiji Amasawa! Which would make Claire Shizuku Tsukishima.

Diptych

I hope this becomes a story. Seeing Marten learning to become a luthier would be very entertaining.

Populuxe

Where do YOU want Marten to be?

Dancing on the Edge of Sanity

Some people were just born old :)

Andrew

Main problem here is not that Claire is putting her mind and energy towards Marten's future, it's that she's doing that totally ignoring his agency. He's not her pet, child, or character in Sims game. He can even agree to needing some changes in his life, but it must be his decision. What she's doing is not supporting, it's managing other adult's life. Changing people's lives "for the better" while forgetting to ask their consent is not healthy. Even interventions for alcoholics or drug abusers imply some form of discussion, and Marten is nowhere near as self-destructive. UPD: she did the same thing with Clinton and Emily - tried to manipulate them as if they were character in her story (huh). Probably it's one of the lessons she needs repeating once in a while.

Evgeniy Semyonov

If you end up staying in a job for the rest of your life (or even for a fair portion of your life), that is, in point of fact, your career. It may not be the career you had planned for, but it's still a career.

awgiedawgie

The "dream job" Marten describes is definitely <i>not</i> a "high paying, big, important job". He probably makes more money at the library than he would repairing musical instruments. But if he would be happier doing that, then why should he stay in a job where he is merely content?

awgiedawgie

I don't know, she is being a bit pushy here, but Martin also needs a kick in the butt. We haven't heard anything about his blog, or seen him do anything to improve his lot. Was in same place he was for three years. Losing my job was the best thing that happened to me. Had gotten in a rut and was going nowhere in my life

Alphones Armorman, suitperson

I am seriously starting to dislike how controlling Claire is becoming. She is cute and lovable but I'm not sure she is good for Marten. Marten is doing fine, he likes working at the library, he's paying the bills, he's happy. I'm really afraid that Claire is going to keep pushing and controlling and pushing some more and this relationship is going to break under the strain. :'(

Creepy Cat Lady

What effort needs to be made? He is happy where he is in life- shocking I know!! Claire needs to talk about it w/ Marten if it's bothering her instead of trying to control him.

Shawn K. Younkin

As someone who runs a music store, I can tell you that being in instrument repair isn't always that relaxing. People throw some serious vitriol and hate toward us when we can't fix their stuff instantly, or when they keep breaking their own shit and blaming us for their ineptitude.

Panic Blitz

I think when you reach age 30'ish...people realize that you don't need a "career" or that life doesn't exactly work out how you thought it was going to growing up and in the end you are happy w/ a job that pays the bills. Extra happy if it's a job that isn't all that bad.

Shawn K. Younkin

I bet that's intentional.

Shaun

I have jobs and I'm quite happy!

Vilinda

Man, lots of people here talking like being okay in a low level job is the worst thing in the world. Not everybody needs to have a high paying, big, important job to be okay in their life!

Not everyone needs a career, lots of people are happy just having a "job".

Chason

Isn't this how Clerks started?

Buck Caldwell

Majored in Come Putter Science

Magic Chopstick Games

Who are these guys, anyway? :P

Joseph Bonnar

Please, Claire. Do help shake Marten out of his complacency. Goodness knows he's been there long enough.

Lucanid Landman

Well, SOMEONE needs to put effort into Marten's future. He sure hasn't been.

Samantha Yeaman

She's gonna drop his unmotivated ass if he doesn't find some direction soon

Mordaeus

Welcome to the Patreon group. I hope you enjoy it here.

Populuxe

I know it's the camera, but it looks like the cat phone case has three eyes.

Hugh Eckert

This isn't relevant to this specific comic, but I just signed up for Patreon today and love that I get an email whenever a new comic is out! Also, Marten should definitely pursue his dreams! Being less passive would be a good improvement for him.

Alex H.

I used to envy Marten for having such cool friends and a fun life, then I laughed at him for his indecisiveness and directionless life, and now I am him. I missed you, dorky boy.

Alexander W Couzens

...oh gods I'm Claire 😂

Nascha Morrison

Claire likes to make plans, doesn't she? Shw wants to get Marten on track for a better career.

Michael Boettger

Can we go back to Faye, May, or Roko?

Andrea Andrew

I'd like to putter around a garage or workshop

Melvin Miller

Claire, why are you butting into Martin’s dream?

Miyaa

Uh oh, Claire is going into life coach mode again.