"I hadn't done anything in six years; I was just vegetating"

Joseph Wambaugh's quote speaks with the idea of stagnancy and a lack of function. It implies that for 6 years, he had actually been living a life without direction or ambition. He was merely existing, not actively taking part in life or striving for anything. This could be translated as a duration of anxiety or lethargy, where he felt not able to do something about it or make development. It could likewise be viewed as a duration of reflection, where he was requiring time to evaluate his life and determine what he wished to do next. In either case, it is clear that he was not living a life of function or fulfillment. He was simply "vegetating," going through the movements with no genuine instructions or purpose.