Henry wants to retire as a gentleman farmer in his beloved, and snowy, upstate New York. Mildred, his wife of forty-four years, not only hates the snow, but wants a life filled with culture, social activities, and to retire from the drudgery of housework. The pair soon find themselves at a retirement living facility outside Atlanta. At Shady Manor Villas, the opportunities for Mildred to be involved are endless, while Henry can barely stay out of trouble. Henry finds unlimited opportunity to refine his sometimes outrageous sense of humor as he jokes about the institution, and the individuals who run it. Henry entertains himself by poking fun at management and the myriad presentations he attends. He enjoys learning about future technology, including a preview of Detroit's newest, The Elder Car. Best of all, he discovers an old-fashioned farm nearby, and forms a close friendship with a scientist and his intelligent robot.