In "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, the author emphasizes the significance of living in the present moment. The idea that there are no future plans to be made or tasks to be completed highlights the urgency of the current hour. The narrative suggests that time is fleeting and that one must embrace the moment as it is given.

This perspective reinforces the theme of survival and the struggle of existence in a desolate world. The notion that "this is later" indicates a continuous progression of time, urging the characters and readers alike to acknowledge the immediacy of life and the importance of seizing each moment amidst uncertainty.