Ive become Mr Smith

I live out in the country with very few neighbors. Two of them a certified assholes. I don't speak to them. Then there is Ray. He is 69. I looked forward to his retirement every time he claimed he was going to. We have worked together on his vehicle or mine, his well or mine, always there for one another. If he would retire, we could take on some larger projects. He has always wanted to screen in his patio at back of house. I want to do a little remodel at the front of my house to add a handicap ramp.
Last time, he planned to retire at his 67 birthday, October of 2020. Changed his mind again.
He works in maintenance for Greenville County so there is no guessing what his retirement is worth. His father owned a huge piece of farmland right behind Wren High Schools football stadium. Ray and his sister split a wheelbarrow full of money when that sold. 250K homes all over it now. Anyway...
Ray and I first worked together in a textile mill. I recall 3 workers who fell dead on the job.
He was one of those who refused to get a covid shot. Then he got the first variant, Delta maybe? He said, "I've been an idiot. I'll get my shots from now on". I said, "I understand. You can't fall dead on the job like a lint head if some virus kills you". Didn't sway him a bit.
Every one of my other friends have died off. God bless their souls. So Ray and I wouldn't really need to have a project going on somewhere all the time. I aint able to do much these days anyway. Just to get together, drink coffee, and talk trash most days would suit me fine.