Process of Elimination

As I try to move on and establish a new life for myself there is this process of elimination that is going on. People are very skilled at dispensing advice about what to do but I have not always found that the advice suits me. Clearly I am a bit different.  In the last years of his life Darryl coveted the idea of us touring in a bus. Being a great fan of Priscilla Queen of the Desert the idea had a lot of appeal to me. I could see myself all frocked up and heading into some remote part of Australia with my ghetto blaster blaring classical music from Classic FM. After he died the shiatzu therapist, who was very intuitive and psychic, kept telling me that he could see me in a camper.  That theory was finally blown out of the pond last week. My daughter and I were holidaying down at the beach and I suggested we go and look at some motor homes. I swear I saw Darryl belly laughing as I sat in the driver's seat of the really big one, the only one I thought I could live in comfortably with my two dogs. It did not take me very long to cross this whole idea off my list. I decided I was better filling the boot of the Mazda and staying in cabins than trying to wend way down some country road in the mega bus. I needed no crystal ball to know that such a scheme would only end in tears. The other plan Darryl and I had was to have 'rural acres'. Well I sort of have these now. I am renting a house outside a spa town in Victoria, am living in the farm house of a working sheep property. I have the house yard and all these acres around me. Sheep bleating and all that! Even I think I would be pretty silly to buy something when I can rent this. I have the farmer keeping the place in order without having to actually have the farmer in the house And there is no shortage of beds for me if I get tired of being alone out there. My mother, son, daughter, friends all have places where I can bunk down if the fire season ramps up. So maybe this looking at 'rural acres' nonsense really does have to stop. Last year, rather spontaneously, I ended up house sitting for people out in a remote mountain part of Victoria. I lived under the shadow of Mount Difficult for two months. The irony of the name did not escape me. Now that was another interesting experience. I had neighbours putting wood by the door and all I had to do was keep the fires burning, look after the dogs and run their accommodation facility. I wouldn't mind house minding again, so long as the people were happy for me to bring my beloved animals and did things like provide a supply of wood. What to do! I think I might go on freelancing like this until the ideal situation emerges. I have this romantic view of having some rambling hotel where lots of people wander in and stay for however long they feel like staying. In return they would help generate the right qi. No strings attached. Not particularly interested in hanky panky.Too old! Too many potential complications!  Maybe I should start looking for an abandoned inn to live in and see if anyone comes looking for a room in an inn. I'm good at tending hearths and cooking up roasts so long as I can go off to my own room when I have had enough socializing.   Of course, I could just go on taking opportunities when they present themselves, put myself in the hands of fate and let those girls (the fates) weave their best tapestry.  What would be your ideal? I mean, it is okay to dream and have fantasies isn't it?