Old School Clothes Line

I think the jokes on me. We've lived in this house 34 years and I knew there once was a clothes line because that big black pole was in the garden. This morning Mike was working on the dryer and said I think I'll wash a load of laundry. I was puzzled and asked where will you dry them? He said on the clothesline in the backyard. Then I followed him back there and he pointed to the box on the wall. "oh I said, that's what that's for? "as he pulled out the retractable line! I have completely wiped that out of my mind though I don't recall ever using it.