It's been a long time since I have had this outlet to share my day with people I may never see in real time. I've missed that part of life.
I am now living in the north of Queensland, Australia. A long way from the house beside the bay in Nova Scotia, Canada. A long way in many meanings of the phrase.
I have now accepted that I am a "disabled Veteran" and that I will never be able to work again. It's been a bitter pill to swallow, having lived in denial and "working" so hard to regain whatever I could. Hoping against hope that I could become strong and healthy again, that I could ... do the things that meant so much to me before.
I am cat sitting for free rent in a lovely house here in the rainforest. It's coming into summer and it's starting to get hot, but the forest helps mitigate the heat a bit.
There are 3 gorgeous cats. The woman owner loves cats and has volunteered at a local private shelter for nearly 20 years. These are the cats that were lucky enough to have this particular cat lady bring them home. They are each very special in their own way. The little old guy living on borrowed time touches my heart. He has a BIG purr. The "young one", 6 years old now, is lively but comes when called. The "little girl" is so sweet and very affectionate, on her own terms.
I lived and worked up this way about 35 years ago. I found it slow for my young self, but now it suits me very well.
I hope to close on the purchase of a resort apartment next week, and live there most of the time. It suits me perfectly to pay fees for someone else to do the gardening and maintenance and clean the pools and ... Looking forward to having my own place again after so many years.
I still have cat sits lined up until April, but I will be at this house until late Feb. I can drive over to my apartment and start making it feel like home.
Then down to Brisbane and Rockhampton to do a couple of cat sits until April 20, 2020. Then I can fully move into my apartment. It's been a long time coming.