I love the soft breeze blowing through open windows in the springtime, the sunlight caressing the fragrant flowers in the garden, the birds chirping happily in the branches of the old oak tree.  It's so refreshing and each morning as I open my eyes and have my cup of coffee, I look out the windows to see another beautiful day begin to rise. It's so peaceful, so precious, and I treasure each moment of silence far away from the noises of the concrete jungle of the city.

The past nine months have been like a tranquilizer, no nosy neighbors knocking on my door looking for useless gossip, or wanting to borrow something from my kitchen or needing something they could easily find in their own home.  It's easier to have someone else lend it to them rather than look for their own in the  jumble of junk drawers.  I don't mind giving someone a hand or lending an item, but when it becomes a three month long game of hide and seek with my property at the neighbors, it's time to stop lending out.  

When my sweetheart and I found this place we thought it would be the perfect hideaway from the toxic relationships we had been dealing with.  Some of those relationships were former friends who turned out to be parasites who sucked the life from you.  Always arguing with each other, they tried to force us to take sides in their personal battles between husband and wife.  And each time we tried to say no, I'm sorry, we can't get involved, they would then take out their misery on us as well as the other partner;  We escaped from their private hell quickly and in secret, and to this day they're still trying to find out where we are.

So yes, the air smells sweeter, the sun shines brighter, and the birds sound happier and now my sweetheart and I can just breathe...