Reasons why I don't have a dog

People are starting to find out that I'm leaving at school.  The news is still spreading at a glacial pace, but that's fine by me right now.  Here's one conversation I'm having a lot of lately:

"Do you live by yourself?  Are you planning to live with anyone?"

"Nope!  Just me."

"Oh.  Do you have a dog or anything to keep you company?"

"No.  I'm very lonely."

haha just kidding about that last part; that would be awkward.  I've been living on my own for 8-9 years now, so I'm not sure why it's just occurring to people that I should be in terrible need of a chaperone in the evenings.

I know dogs are wonderful and people love them.  I just don't want one.  Ok fine, I'll admit I've had one or two fleeting thoughts of getting some kind of furry lovable creature, but those thoughts quickly pass.  When we were younger, my sister and I wanted a dog and I remember checking out a ton of books at the library to write a report on them for my parents.  I never actually wrote the report.  I liked the idea of having a dog...but not the actual work that goes into having a pet.  Well played, Mom and Dad.

It's not that I dislike dogs.  I like your dog.  I will hang out with you and your dog.  I just don't want to take your dog home with me forever.  I feel the same way about dogs as I do about kids.  I love them to pieces.  I'm so glad they're yours.  (For now, at least.)

I had fish once.  I've had a few plants.  Plants are more my style, but even those have been known to be neglected at times.

Here's why I don't have a dog:
(please don't hate me, dog lovers... the root of this is that pets should have great homes, and my home wouldn't be wonderful!)

1.  I don't speak animal
Some people do.  I don't understand those people.  I wish I had that talent, but I just can't communicate with animals effectively.

2. I don't like being watched while I'm eating.
I am currently living with a (very wonderful, well trained, and entertaining) dog and anytime I eat he is right there staring at me.  He watches the food go in my mouth.  He watches my every movement.  Sometimes I just move my hands around for my own amusement.  

3. Medicine/Dog Bills
Once I was dog-sitting and I would have to roll some kind of pill in baloney or cheese for the dog to eat and it still causes me to make this grossed out face just thinking about it.  Dogs are expensive little creatures.  They want to eat and they have to go to the doctor.  And right now, this is an optional expense I choose not to have.

4. Dog clothes
I have a terrible fear that I would be a person who would dress my dog.

5. Scheduling/leaving town
Maybe I won't be home until late.  Maybe something comes up and the dog doesn't go out or get fed.   Maybe I want to leave town all of a sudden.  Sometimes locking your house and just leaving for a weekend is glorious.

6. Carrying poop around
Is there anything less attractive than being on a walk carrying a plastic baggie of poop around?  I also don't want to take a bag of poop for a walk while it is tied to my pet's collar.

7. Sick days
A dog could throw up somewhere and not tell me and then I'm just supposed to figure it out and find it somewhere however long afterwards.  Gross.

8. Sometimes you accidentally step on them 
...and then you feel really bad about it.

9. Jumping dogs terrify me.
There.  I said it.  It absolutely freaks me out when dogs run and jump on you.  I can tolerate it if I know the dog, but if an unknown dog comes running at me, I might start to cry.

So you see...I'm just not ready for a dog.  They should have wonderful homes.  I'm not saying never...I'm just saying not right now.  Don't worry about me!  I'll be busy admiring everyone else's fabulous pets!

Sold

Paperwork signed and everything is official.  I'm homeless.  

I left my key on the counter, cried the suggested amount... maybe more.  This house has been my five year project.  I feel like we're breaking up.  I was feeling nostalgic after just six hours of not being there.  I've left my house by itself for that long before, I just haven't left it knowing I can never walk back through it ever again.  I struggled walking out the door and locking it just because I wanted to peek back in one last time.  

Selling my things wasn't so hard.  So long, junk I've been collecting!  The good stuff went to nice homes (or so I'm told).  People were happy to find whatever treasures I felt I could live without now.  It felt good, refreshing, and energizing.

Selling the house was harder than I expected.  Not even the selling part...just the leaving.  The emotion finally hit me today.  Leaving the bookshelves I designed and my dad made.  My library.  The hours I spent after work in the middle of freezing cold January painting the bathroom or taking staples out of the floor.  Hating mowing the lawn.  Attempting to get plants to grow. The weekends with my parents tackling every project under the sun.  Even though home-ownership was not my talent, I have loved it all.  At least the memories don't stay with the house.

Here's my house the day that I bought it (Jan 2009):

And after painting it:

And yesterday when I finally locked the door one last time (Apr 2014):

Someone else will love my house.  I hope they do.  I also hope they let me back in this week when I accidentally show up there because I've forgotten where I live now.  

I miss it already.