We're your typical middle-class family. I'm in IT, my wife's a teacher, and we have 2 kids. We live in a nice home in South Florida. We try to take at least 1 family vacation together per year. We save for the kids' college education. Fight about how much time they spend online. Try to impress upon them the importance of exercise and good eating habits. And cleaning their rooms. Etc. Etc. Etc.
We live in a gated community/homeowner's association. As part of our HOA dues, we have access to the community clubhouse which has a gym, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a pool. Did I mention we live in South Florida? It gets hot. So the pool gets lots of use by the 500+ families who live here. Fortunately, not all use it at the same time; however on a weekend afternoon, it can certainly get very crowded.
When I met my wife, she had 2 cats, but they died a number of years ago. They led long full lives but they got very very sick as they aged. My kids each had Beta fish. Who knew how much work it would take to care for them? Feed them, clean the tank. Extended release food capsules when we went away. To make a long story short, and after numerous betas... we determined we were not fish people. Just like we're not Disney people, but that's another story.
So a few years ago the wife and kids got on the "we want a pool" and "we want a dog" bandwagon. I was adamantly opposed to both. The pool because of the expense. And the dog because of both the expense, and the fact that I would likely be the one doing all the work since I work from home. These debates would happen every few weeks. One went like this:
Wife: I really want a pool
Me: We're not getting a pool
W: I really want a pool
M We're not getting a pool
W: A dog?
M: I work from home... I'm going to do all the work. No dog.
W: I really want a pool
M: Really? Enough
W: Everyone else has a pool
M: If everyone jumped out of an airplane
W: (stares at me with scorn)
M: We pay due to use the community pool
W: The kids are getting bigger, and I would like them and their friends to swim here
M: Great... so we have to feed their friends, and deal with the whole mess in the house
W: But everyone is getting a pool
M: Then fewer people will use the community pool, so it will be empty when you're there; it will be like your own pool
W: FINE. WE WON'T GET A POOL. WE'RE GETTING A DOG. A GOLDEN DOODLE. AND I ALREADY CHECKED OUT BREEDERS, AND ....
So that's how we got Ruby. Who we affectionately call The Doobs, Puppleton, Pito. And sometimes even Trainwreck. But we love her. And she loves us.
PS: Now they want another dog. Serenity now!
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