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Wiser on the Upper West Side?

May 17, 2026 | 8:17 AM
in ABSURDITY, ART, COLUMNS
24

By Gary Martin

Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com

Listen to Rag Radio’s interview with Gary Martin — HERE.

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24 Comments
Anne Watkins
Anne Watkins
1 month ago

Oh this makes me smile. xoxo

1
Reply
Rosie
Rosie
1 month ago

Nice Gary is always lovely, but cranky Gary is what we’ve come to expect. Welcome back!

2
Reply
Kit
Kit
1 month ago

Good one!!

1
Reply
Paula
Paula
1 month ago

Welcome to the club, would you care to learn canasta and play with the women….mahjong? 😅

1
Reply
Neal
Neal
1 month ago

Oh, Gary … we’ll NEVER run out of stupid things to do!

4
Reply
Sharon
Sharon
1 month ago

It’s true, not necessarily wiser, just tired of doing all the stupid things I had been doing.

1
Reply
Mary McCarthy
Mary McCarthy
1 month ago

We love Gary’s cartoons. Keep them coming.

2
Reply
Tom D'Angelis
Tom D'Angelis
1 month ago

Very true.

1
Reply
Ellen Freeman
Ellen Freeman
1 month ago

It’s called retirement!

2
Reply
Andy
Andy
1 month ago

Love it

1
Reply
Eljay
Eljay
1 month ago

brilliant!!!

1
Reply
Bill Given
Bill Given
1 month ago

That is a very true comment about all of us Baby Boomers! Thanks, Gary.

1
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
1 month ago

In my experience, you can never run out of stupid things to do.

3
Reply
Pat Hogan
Pat Hogan
1 month ago

No worries. I will gladly share all the endless stupid things that I do every single day. You will be busy till the day you die. Lol

1
Reply
Judy Orich
Judy Orich
1 month ago

Yet wise enough to make such a keen observation !

1
Reply
Judy Orich
Judy Orich
1 month ago

Yet wise enough to make this observation !

1
Reply
Joanna
Joanna
1 month ago

Guffaw

1
Reply
Nina
Nina
1 month ago

I bet you can think of a few more lol!!

1
Reply
David
David
1 month ago

Let me know if you would like me to make several suggestions; I have an unlimited supply.

1
Reply
Corcoran
Corcoran
1 month ago

That’s enlightenment Gary. Congrats.

1
Reply
Nancy
Nancy
1 month ago

Another stupid thing is just around the corner, Not to worry.

1
Reply
Mark
Mark
1 month ago

Okay, so this literally made me laugh out loud! Thanks for the very “on-brand” humor, Gary, and may you never run out of stupid things to do!

1
Reply
Tuna Jack
Tuna Jack
30 days ago

Won’t find wisdom on the East Side either! Stay where you are. Never change. There are plenty of stupid things for us all if we look hard enough

1
Reply
Joe Chiplock
Joe Chiplock
30 days ago

Me too! So, is this adulthood???

1
Reply

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