Woodsie Oceana

Today is day six off of social media. I took Frank for a 3 mile walk down the Dequindre Cut, then back through Eastern Market. We got rained out a little bit, but I didn’t mind. At the beginning of my walk, I made a goal to not check my phone for anything for one hour. I chose not to listen to music or a podcast. I just wanted to be present. I have to say, it felt SO GOOD not to be interrupted or distracted. To focus on all of my senses and surroundings. Sharpening my awareness to the world.

I stopped in the DYNO climbing gym at the end of the Dequindre Cut. It looked a lot different than how I imagined it. I thought I would be more excited about it, but when I walked out, I found I’m still just not really that interested in trying it. My mom came over when I got home. She had a new haircut and her make up was done and she looked really pretty. I was going to go out in gym clothes, but after I saw her, I decided I should put in a little effort as well. Why not? She loves coming to my apartment. She always tells me how perfect for me it is, and I don’t disagree.

She was really proud of herself that she made a list of 26 things she hast to do. She is always trying to stay ahead of her chores. I asked her, “How many of these chores involve things around the house?”, and she said (surprising herself) “ Well, all of them…” I realized something in that moment, and verbalized the instant realization “I just don’t want that for my life. I feel like a house is a monster that takes up so much of your time. I don’t mind paying the premium to have all of those things done, so I can use my time the way I want to.”

Owning a house sure does seem like a lot of work, especially living alone. I think the only way I would end up buying a house would be if I had a family, and I knew I was going to stay there for a little bit for my kids to be in school… and that doesn’t feel like it’s in the cards for me any time soon.

Sometimes I’m a little sad about it… But most of the time, I feel very lucky to live the life that I do. Single and childless, but still hopeful, romantic, lover at heart.

After I finished getting ready, we walked around Eastern market for a little bit. I was really glad I brought my new umbrella! The weather was really shitty today, but we had a really great time together. we went to a Detroit animal care and control because she wanted to look at the dogs. Most of the dogs are Pitbulls mixes of some sort, and I think she is looking for something a little smaller. She mentions getting a Puggle or a golden retriever.

We left the DACC without a dog as I predicted. We walked into Detroit shipping company for a second and it seem like a wild party in there. We looked at each other and decided to go somewhere else for lunch. I was really glad I took her to Pho Lucky. It was her first time having Pho, and she really liked it. The Vietnamese coffee was so delicious. I want to look up how to make I at home.

I told her a story about how the first time I had pho I was by myself when I was living in Las Vegas. I told her how I had to figure a lot of things out on my own and how I’ve been having so much fun on my own adventures. She told me she really admires that about me. I have always admired her sense of independent exploration, so it is kind of surreal to hear when she admires it about me.