He wants to feel good, he always used to feel good at every turning of the year, every vacation or end of vacation, every new sheet on the calendar: but his adult life has proved to have no seasons, only changes of weather, and the older he gets, the less weather interests him. The house next to his old house still has the FOR SALE sign up. He tries his front door
The main character longs for the joy and excitement he once felt during significant moments throughout the year, like holidays and the beginning of a new year. However, as he matures, his life seems to lack the distinct seasons that brought him happiness, leaving him instead with an indifferent existence marked by mere changes in circumstances. This growing apathy seems to dull his perception of life.
The lingering "FOR SALE" sign on his old neighbor's house serves as a reminder of the past and perhaps evokes a sense of nostalgia. In attempting to engage with his memories, he opens his front door, suggesting a longing for a connection to the life he once experienced, as seen in Updike's "Rabbit Redux." This act signals his struggle to reconcile his past happiness with the present emptiness he faces.
