Life and Found Family

A long-time friend of ours has stayed with me and Squatch on and off over the last 8 years or so, and is currently occupying one of our three bedrooms. 

A situation arose where this friend, who I'll call Digler, was going through a breakup and that included some phone line drama. Today, we took Digler down to the phone store and they bought themselves a compatible phone outright for $200. On the drive back home they wanted to know what we paid for monthly service, so they'll be paying us $30/month on top of the rent contribution they give us. 

It was all so easy, and painless. They gladly watch the dogs for us when we're out of town or even just at appointments- several of the dogs would otherwise need to be kenneled for their own safety. They communicate clearly and honestly. The dogs are obsessed with them, even the youngest who has lived through some trauma and takes a while to warm up to people. 

There's so many reasons we're lucky to have them, but it's strange to me that I never thought it could be this easy. I have two humans in my home who consistently support me, my dogs, and my home in the total opposite of how others have treated us in the past. 

Digler watched our dogs last month while we went to see my aunts and uncles who I hadn't seen in nearly three decades. It was a long drive both ways, but there were no plaintive texts about them, and no damage done to my home when we returned. When one dog had found a new and exciting way out of the yard several months ago, they gave us the rent money early (their idea) and helped build the fences to keep them safe. They help clean the yard every week, go to family functions with us, and help us source materials and resources. 

Family is where you find it.