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June 27, 2021: Wants and Needs

Things we want we do not need. Things we need, we need. For years, I’ve said we need to find a house sitter – someone reliable and responsible. No one had materialized, so Pete and I continued to do split shift vacations, with one or the other of us remaining on the home front. Last summer he went dip netting and did a fly-in fishing trip. He also went berry picking. I did a lengthy bicycle trip and rode my horse over Hatcher Pass. I thought then and thought now, what a rarity it would be, for us to go camping together.

It has worked out, our doing longer treks because Pete opted out of putting in and maintaining a garden, and I found someone to take on all the animals. Covid concerns kept us on the home front this summer – I suspected that Pete was relieved since this meant he could garden to his heart’s delight. My one hesitation in going anywhere for any great length of time now has to do with Tinni. He’s 32, and really, is best off here. I have not been totally happy with the care he’s gotten elsewhere. He needs exercise, and this is something that others have not considered to be a priority.

Today, the house-sitting door was flung wide open. Now we just need to set aside our concerns and step through it. This afternoon we went and visited with our new neighbor Sebastian, who along with this wife Brite, purchased property at the top of Jim’s Road.


One of the garden rain containers


He said today in passing that he would be willing to house sit. I’ve since thought about it some, and have come to the conclusion that, yes, this would work. He’s a super responsible guy, and would treat the place and animals as if they were his own.

For some time, I’ve had reservations about anyone inhabiting that property. I’ve seen it go from being a dirt trail, to well traversed road. There have been three differing owners, all of whom have made some improvements and then sold it to the next person. I have a good feeling about the new inhabitants and hope they stay. This is an instance in which having new neighbors trumps development. It will be fun, getting together, say on the winter solstice (coming right up) and having them over for a bonfire. And perhaps we can go sledding on the hill up above their place.

Add to this – the neighbor across the way from the road leading up to their place has put his place up for sale. Imagine if we got more like-minded people in the hood. We could all watch one another’s places should any of us go on vacation. And we could milk one another’s goats.

Is this what I want or what I need? I say, this is what I need.

Next: 178. 6/28/21: Shadow’s Dog Blog

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