In my retirement I go for a short swim at least once or twice every day. It's either that or buy a new golf ball.

Perret’s line is a self-deprecating retirement joke that contrasts two leisure activities—swimming and golf—to suggest he’s chosen the one that’s cheaper, healthier, and less frustrating. The punchline (“buy a new golf ball”) implies he loses balls frequently, a familiar comic trope about golfers’ wayward shots and the hidden costs of the game. Beneath the humor is a small philosophy of aging well: in retirement, daily routines matter, and choosing an activity you can do consistently (a short swim once or twice a day) can be both practical and restorative. The quip also plays on the idea that retirement is not idleness but a chance to reallocate time toward habits that feel rewarding.