I would never live in town again. I wouldn’t be living in the country now if it weren’t for my wife’s deep and abiding love for all animals, which I share. With just over two acres to call home and a pasture of just under one, we are “maxed out” with three goats and two llamas. Not long ago we said, “No more animals.” That was thirteen animals ago. Things started to escalate last year when our neighbor down the road moved into a rest home. We tried to adopt all eleven of Addie’s barn cats and ended up with seven “barnies.” Our two dogs, who also occupy the house with us, along with six birds, five cats, and two aquariums full of fish, don’t seem to mind too much. The dogs love chasing the scent of the barn cats around the yard at night, as they run the perimeter of the new 500 foot fence that I just completed for them. Now they can get up to speed! Wee! Overhead fly Sandhill cranes from the nearby wetland, and, of course, we consider the wild birds, rabbits, squirrels, deer, and coyotes to be our extended family. We would like to purchase another few acres to our east and north. We could have an orchard, grow sweet corn, and breed a primitive variety of sheep. Next, we’re going to buy a few ducks. And, there’s that new orange cat that showed up this morning…