The Happiest Husky

[tyellas]

Coldest day all year here in Wellington, with icy wind delivered C.O.D. from Antarctica. I dashed out quickly to get groceries and two boxes of wood into the house, and I saw someone walking their Husky dog. Their happy, happy Husky. It was facing cheerfully into the wind, playful and eager for it to start snowing any minute.

I spoke with my mom briefly, and she is interested in retiring in New Zealand. Huh. I asked what she wanted in a retirement place, and the first words out of her mouth were that she wanted to be able to have a dog. Laudable, and I hope it's not difficult.

Comments

Huskies

[ewen]

I know someone who races Huskies. He said they can't race when the weather is over 10 C, because they get too hot. And they prefer much colder if possible. So, yes, ideal Husky weather at present.

If your mother is well enough to live by herself I'd expect having a dog wouldn't be a big problem. I'm not sure how well the retirement village/managed care places cope with having pets around (which is a shame, because often the company of a pet makes all the difference to the person's well being).

Ewen

Re: Huskies

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

I know that my mom's mom is visiting her right now, and her combination of fraility and longetivity (my grandmother is pushing 87) is making her think.

My mother probably also figures that I'd be a better child-to-have-around-during-frail-old-age than either of my brothers, considering that one is a slacker and the other is a career maniac by day and a nihilistic hipster by night.

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Noting like watching a sled dog breed romping happily in sub-zero weather to make you realize how miserably equipped to deal with the elements we humans naturally are. (Of course, that's why we created the long-haired cat to serve as a lap-warmer!)

Has your mom actually spent much time in New Zealand? Or is she saying she wants to retire there because it's just where you are living now?