A day at the fair should be pure pleasure, and the speaker sets out to enjoy exactly that. While their partner is at work, they try every ride and eat ice cream, waiting for some big burst of joy to arrive. It never quite does. Instead, the speaker catches themselves wishing they were at work too, because then the day wouldn't feel so pointless.
That odd wish is the heart of the poem. The speaker doesn't really want a job; they want to be doing something alongside the person they love, even if it's ordinary. The final lines say it plainly: they have more fun when that person is with them.
The mood is quiet, gently wistful, and a little rueful. The short lines and simple wording make the poem feel like a small, honest confession. There's no drama here, just the slow, slightly funny realization that all the rides in the world can't replace company.