Taking Feebs back to the shelter was awful. It was June 2022, and I had weeks of allergy shots left before I could bring a dog home. But the bigger issue was this: how could a large reactive country dog be happy in a city condo?

But I missed her. She’d been in a shelter for nearly three years by then, and while the people there are wonderful, she’s scared of other dogs. So I decided wanted to find a way to make it work.

I’d experimented with digital nomading before: maybe I could travel with her and stay on a farm!

I adopted her in September, and by November I’d signed a lease and paid deposits. Three days before we were to leave, I got hit by a car.

We didn’t give up though. After a year of working to get better, and finding out Feebs may not have as many years left as I’d hoped, I started planning our move again. We finally made it to Vermont in January.

Having visited once before, I loved Vermont so much I’ve daydreamed of retiring here. So in addition to helping Feebs, this would be a test to see if I could handle its winter and life in the countryside. Plus there was the solar eclipse, and a slight possibility of seeing the Northern Lights. Choosing our starting point was easy.

Digital nomading with a reactive dog is not easy, though. I can’t take her with me to events. And as a person who has to push past shy and awkward feelings go out in the first place, the extra friction of leaving her home has made isolation my default. I’ve been a bit (okay, a lot) of a hermit here. I’m working on that, and Feebs is working on staying home alone without being crated.

And we’ll keep up this lifestyle because it’s worth it. Feebs is so much healthier, whether it’s the reduced stressed or increased oxygen, I’m not sure. I am getting out dancing once in a while, and I’ve got a friendly community that’s happy to chat. I got to enjoy the eclipse AND the aurora with my bare eyes. And, central Vermont is even more beautiful and serene than I’d remembered.

My only regret is that my lease here ends soon, then we’re off to our next adventure!