A Quiet Life With Ivy
I live a quiet life with Ivy.
In the summertime here, with the oppressive heat, I close the blinds and curtains against the sun, making it kind of dark inside. If I don’t, the thermostat will slowly crawl up.
So I sit in the darkened apartment, grateful for the coolness.
I find I’m happy staying home. The world has been so crazy the past year and a half that I don’t want to be out and about.
To mask or not mask, socially distance or not socially distance, all now fraught with anger.
My car is almost 16 years old, so staying home means I’m not putting more miles on it. I won’t have to have car maintenance as often. Or pay for gas very often.
My gas tank has sat at just over three quarters of a tank for well over a month.
Many people can’t handle staying home. But I’ve always been a homebody. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than in my apartment with Ivy.
I never get bored. There is so much to do. I work on this blog, I watch British TV, read books. Gaze out at my patio and tend to my house plants. I often play fetch with Ivy.
Kind of hot to be out on the patio unless I’m watering the containers in the evening. Changing the water in the bird bath daily. In the cooler weather I will enjoy it again.
Though I live in a one bedroom apartment, I don’t feel stifled from the lack of space. I’ve always preferred small spaces. It’s almost like I feel safest wrapping this small home around me, snug in its embrace.
I’ll be repotting the house plants that spent the summer outside and bringing them inside soon. I’m waiting until it cools off a bit.
Ivy and I are perfect companions. I need her and she needs me. Well, as much as a cat needs anyone. We have a schedule we follow, a routine we live by. I enjoy her antics and gaze at her with a solid and immutable love.
I miss Charlie so much. So very, very much. I miss him in the passenger seat staring ahead as though he’s a person. And I miss him snuggling against me here in my chair.
Grief is like a bitter pill I have to swallow every morning when I wake up and realize he’s gone. Tears rush into my eyes because I’ll never pet his soft sweet head again. Or see his love for me shining in his brown eyes.
I still can’t write about him without crying.
I feel sorry for the people being evicted from their homes, the homeless wandering the streets in this awful heat. Often with their dog sitting atop their grocery cart belongings.
The world can be such a cruel place for those with little to get them by.
I donate to places needing food for pets. And I keep my memories of my Charlie boy close.
Life goes on. One step at a time.
“Sometimes, you need to be alone. Not to be lonely, but to enjoy your free time being yourself.” – Author Unknown
Oh Brenda, I’m so sorry to hear about Charlie. It is just SO hard when they go. Our Sophie is 14 now and showing her age…so hard. I’m glad you have sweet Ivy…
I don’t mind traveling but I am at my happiest being at home. I am never bored….. just not enough time in a day to accomplish everything I love doing! Simple things bring me the most joy, my family, my home, hobbies and just puttering around. Now if I could fine away to do this without needing a full-time job! lol
I identified with everything that you said. For years I felt bad about feeling this way, but have come to appreciate the gift of enjoying life and being contented in my own space with my husband. We enjoy being with friends as well, but never feel the pull that we should be out doing something else. As you said, we are never bored. In fact, there’s not enough time in the day to finish all the things we love to do. So glad they took introversion off the list of mental illness diagnoses. (smile)
It’s wonderful to live our best lives in the way that makes us happiest. I am a do-er, and a go-er but I love my at-home time, too. I’m never bored at home, and wish there were more hours in the day to putter around with all the things I want to do.
It’s always good to hear about other homebodies out there. Your life sounds peaceful and well suited to you and Charlie. I’ve never understood people who don’t love being at home, but I know it doesn’t make everyone as happy as it makes me. Take care!
Paula
Brenda, I think you have a host of homebodies that read your posts, myself included. I am never more happy than when I am at home. I love to travel and have traveled the U.S and the world but there is no place like home. My home is like a cocoon from the outside world, I keep it as cozy and comfy as possible for me and my pups and my husband too. It is an oasis from the chaos of the world. I am sorry for the pain of Charlies loss, it is so difficult to loos these sweet little souls. Stay cool and enjoy your Cozy Little House!
I think we must be related only I live in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I have a soon-to-be 16-year-old car come January. I have two cats, a one-bedroom apartment, and I too am a homebody. I’d be lost without my cats.
I love to watch British TV, too. I think it is much more enjoyable than a lot of American shows. I love to stay home, too. But it does me good to get out and do volunteer work and talk with others. My cat likes it best when I am home, too.
Always been a homebody too…I think with age, my ability to cope with the nasty events that can happen away from home, make it easier to stay home. You are right…lots of anger out there these days. Sad what life has become really. But there are also still ways fortunately to enjoy it…glad you have Ivy!! I was thinking again how much a little dog would be nice, but it would not work for us I fear. I barely have enough energy now to take care of my husband. So I am left with my memories…and of my dogs, that is fine memories!!
Your blog and the simple, pure lifestyle you lead are a needed oasis in this crazy world. Your posts radiate tranquility. I open them right away for my “fix” of solitude. I am just sorry about Charlie and the pain that still lingers over his loss. The best part of this pandemic for me has been the slowing down and appreciating what I already have here. My pets are important to me, too, and so are the hours we spend together on the couch. Like you, I need nothing more. We are both blessed.
Not to be intrusive or anything, but I often wonder if you and ivy would enjoy bringing a kitten into your lives? You’d be saving another little soul!
I too enjoy my peace and quiet of home life, and don’t let anyone say I fear going out cause it’s not that I fear going out as much as I dread seeing the sadness I feel when I see homeless people, watching angry men and women yelling back and forth over a simple thing like mask wearing, sad children idly standing by looking at parents who should never have been parents and animals not being cared for. That is what ruins my day when I go someplace and I can’t fix it so I do what I can from my home like support worthy causes. People just act so angry and critical now so it’s not fun going to many stores. I also have lots of interest I keep myself entertained with so the days fly by.
this reflected the simple truth of my life also. I love my life. and I’m never bored.
I stay at home. I only go out for groceries. I sweep my patio/porch. just to keep active and moving. I live in Oklahoma as well. and I always feel if I can endure another summer here I’ll be good for the rest of the year! it’s always brutal.
but the roof over my head in this tiny apartment is safe and I’m grateful. I’ve also had to learn to keep it dark even though I love the light.
it’s cooler and my A/C doesn’t work as hard.
and I’m also grateful for blogs like yours. thank you for all your posts! xo
There is no place I would rather be than at home. I do have a husband who also likes to be at home. We have our separate ‘hobbies’ so we are not always together. We might even be in the same room but doing our own thing.
It is a nice peaceful life.
I love reading your blog and all about your sweet home and quiet life and Ivy. I too am a homebody, I relate to all you wrote. Thank you for being there to validate that there are others out there not needing that busy go, go, go, life. :0)
Beautiful post Brenda. Tranquility in simplicity. Isn’t this what we are all striving for? Happy Labor Day! Mary Ellen
I’m a homebody, too. All good.