Sometimes life happens. To you and your friends.
I committed to C1 several months ago. And then I was approached by H1 to house-sit. Then there was my dear friend – shall I call her CH1 because I feed her chickens?
As for life happening… we’re all at the age when our parents are gone, or passing. That’s part of CH1’s story.
Where am I going with all this?
For the last three weeks, I’ve been living at C1 and still caretaking at H1. For the last two weeks, I’ve also been feeding chickens and the cat at CH1. There is an adult daughter who helps but, at eight months pregnant, she can’t be handling the kitty litter box.
None of the above would be a big deal except that C1 is in a part of town that grew too big too fast so, if you’re on the road at commuter times, you’re hooped.
I don’t do hooped. My dear friend was concerned about adding to my commitments but, like I her told her: “it’s short-term!” and, as far as I’m concerned, some things are non-negotiables with good friends.
I probably don’t need to write this article… except I want to emphasize that, once you choose this lifestyle, you have commitments to the “contracts” but you also need to keep friends, relationships in perspective.
I just finished a day of cleaning > dementia client > laundry > traffic as both H1 and CH1 will end in a few days.
See what I mean? Looking forward it seemed like a lesson in organization and overwhelm. Looking back, H1 and CH1 are both good friends, C1 is still nick-named Slasher, and in a few days, I’ll probably be bored with lack of commitment!!
I appreciate my journey of wanderlust, and learning.
Postscript: I’m enjoying the day-old eggs from the chickens AND the raspberries and snap peas in the garden are ready!!! There’s always a silver lining if you look for it!
