Peter Anker and his wife have invested in a bench in a forest outside Oslo — and they are welcoming anyone to rest there any day except for 12 May 2039.
That is when the former leading shipbroker and Helene Jebsen Anker plan to use the site near Skjennungstua, not far from Oslo's Holmenkollen ski arena, to celebrate their golden anniversary.
The celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary starts at noon — 19 years from now.
Peter resigned as a director of Clarksons — the world’s biggest shipbroker — a year ago.
Helene said the 62-year-old continues to be in good form and lost some 20 to 25 kilos. The two are active, taking strolls in the woods around Oslo, and she said that has made it much easier for them to walk to a cabin called Skjennungsstua together.
When they celebrate their golden anniversary, the couple will be in their early 80s. And they said that although they are actively doing walks in the woods, there is no guarantee of their physical shape nearly two decades from now.
At the time of their planned luncheon celebration for their anniversary, the Ankers hope they will be able to reach the bench by foot and not by car on the day. Fortunately, it will not be a very long stroll from Skjennungsstua.
It was Helene who came up with the idea of a personal bench, which typically cost NOK 5,000 ($500). She described it as a good idea for a man "who has everything".
The couple are already making regular visits to the Anker bench.
Peter led RS Platou from 1987 until the company merged with Clarksons six years ago. Helene holds a 20% stake in Peter’s investment company, Langebru.
