Okay, this is starting to feel like a holiday. For the first time in months or maybe years, I woke up: "There are no boarding pets to care for!"
I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. Will I awake one day and regret this decision to retire? I laughed with a retired friend on Wednesday at the dinner party, who says, "Anything can be undone, including replacing the kennels you just sold."
What most people don't realize is that I'd had thoughts of retirement since I had a "mediocre" stroke in 2019. I didn't really act upon any such notion, and actually bought more fence panels from Zev in the years since.
In the investigation of the lacunar stroke, it was also determined that I had had a heart attack, "We can't determine when…".
Summer before last, I had some concerns with tightness in my chest, but when I finally got an appointment with a cardiologist, I explained that the symptoms had abated. That was true, but also, I felt I was too busy to go to Prince George! The receptionist started, "Okay, we'll phone again in September.", but they did not. We all forgot about me, including me.
This spring, before it got steadily busy again, we had the wild fire sweep through our side of the Robson Valley. Gary, Adrien and I, and several friends, evacuated 11 dogs, 6 cats, 7 chickens and Shelly's horse. We were all busy but stoic, then, as if in a dream, it was all over. We were physically unscathed and able to move back home.
But if I had to put my finger on it, the first symptoms of "maybe" heart issues appeared that month. I complained to Gary that my chest felt heavy. How long did it take me to even phone for a doctor's appointment? Mid August I called, and still waited for three weeks to see a locum doctor.
She looked at me sternly and wagged her finger, "You must take this seriously, Ann. Do not refuse any appointments or tests."
I tell you all this not to gain concern or sympathy, but to make my point that the plan for retirement was not all that sudden. Mind you, I hadn't been talking about it very much. If a person didn't need Pet Hostel services, it might take one by surprise that we aren't taking any bookings. I was available to almost everyone for most of 39 years.
At any rate, a friend is having a Grand Opening of her kennel business. She won't have indoor runs at this time, but I would think she'll add a cozy facility soon. 👏
Meanwhile, many places in the world are not cozy, safe, or prosperous. So many suffer.
Hope you are okay. 🫂
~ Ann
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