Don’t Forget to Date Your Wife

Kate and I love live music. Always have. While we were in California a few weeks ago, we missed her favorite band playing in Houston. She was disappointed… until I checked their tour dates and saw they were playing in Austin last week. Boom—surprise date night. I grabbed tickets and booked us an overnight escape.

The band? Khruangbin. Weird name, incredible sound. We first saw them at the Ohana Fest five years ago—Eddie Vedder’s annual music festival right on the water at Doheny State Park in California. It’s one of our favorite traditions. Turns out Khruangbin is a Houston band. They even joked on stage that if they thought they’d ever make it big, they never would’ve picked a name no one can pronounce or spell.

This is How I Plan a Quick Hit Getaway:

I’ve got a little system. And yes, I over prepare—because it makes the trip feel effortless.

  • Google the venue: I check where the soundboard is and which seats offer the best experience.

  • Compare dates and deals: Tuesday vs. Wednesday—picked the night with better seats and value.

  • Check hotel points: Marriott Bonvoy for the win. Scored a room at The Proper—our favorite Austin hotel. Use this link to sign up for my favorite credit card.

  • Book a dinner spot: Reserved a table at Peacock Mediterranean Grill inside the hotel. Delicious, healthy, and no stress.

We told our 18-year-old, “You’ll survive a night without us. Feed the dogs. We love you.”
He was more than fine.

The 36-Hour Escape Plan

  • Tuesday morning:
    ✔️ Both got our workouts in
    ✔️ Walked the dogs
    ✔️ Made breakfast for Harper
    ✔️ Light lunch, then hit the road by noon

  • Afternoon arrival in Austin:
     🏨 Checked into the Proper by 3:30
     🔁 Sauna + plunge booked in the recovery suite
    🍽️ Dinner at 6:30
     🚗 Uber to concert by 8 (no need for the opener)

  • The concert?
     🔥 Amazing.
    🌤️ Perfect weather.
     😴 Asleep by midnight.

  • Wednesday morning reset:
    🚶‍♂️ Walked a few miles along Lady Bird Lake
     🥣 Grabbed breakfast bowls at SunLife Organics
    🚘 Back on the road by 11AM

And yes, we made our ritual stop at Pete’s BBQ—a gas-station-adjacent shack I’ve been hitting for years. Ribs, chicken, brisket. All top notch.

Here’s the Point:

That was a fantastic 36 hours.

That’s my definition of fun.

Guys—don’t forget to date your wife.

Plan something. Anything.

Put in the effort. It matters.

In Health,

Greg

Midlife Male
52. Husband. Father. Entrepreneur. Coach. Student of the game.
Still walking the walk.

Making the Rounds

One of the best parts about what we’re building with Midlife Male is that we’re growing and reaching new audiences every day. Feels like every week I’m being asked to guest on a podcast or be interviewed about how we’re taking midlife and turning it on its head; how we’re taking what used to be a long, slow walk into retirement after age 40 and reversing that trend, transforming these years into the best years of our lives.

And here’s something interesting: I’ve been getting regular requests from some impressive midlife woman to speak on their podcasts and to their audiences because, guess what, they want to help/understand the midlife men in their lives. Incredible.

To that end, last week I was a guest on former Police Chief Kristen Ziman’s podcast and they did an excellent write-up about our conversation.

You can read it here and then be sure to listen to the interview.

P.S., HERE ARE THREE WAYS I CAN HELP YOU TODAY:

  1. Buy my bestselling book: The Midlife Male: A No-Bullsh*t Guide to Living Better, Longer, Happier, Healthier, and Wealthier and Having More Fun in Your 40s and 50s. Order my book here. 

  1. Join the Midlife Male Inner Circle—a community for midlife guys like us, 40-60+, who know midlife is the starting line for the rest of our lives, not a slow, boring road to retirement.  For $100/month (or $999/year—first 100 get two months free), you’re in with me and a group of relatable, credible and aspirational men who’ve been there. We have regular video events featuring A-List guests, monthly roundtables, exclusive in-person retreats and honest, actionable talks about life and our 6Fs—family, fitness, finance, fashion, food and fun. Check out our Inner Circle community here.

  2. Get One-on-One Coaching with me. Want more help? I coach a select few men one-on-one. It’s just you and me, talking it through, making a plan, and pushing you toward your next win. No pressure, just progress. Reach out—let’s make it happen, one step at a time. Book your call here.

  3. BONUS: Check out my Most Popular Middle Columns:

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