we have always as a family had pets in the house, from hamsters, gerbils and rabbits plus cats, I had always as well been very active in trying to care for them for as long as I remember.
When I moved out and was in college I felt so empty so got two gerbils who were fabulous to have around and perfect for that time in my life, however during my first year of working life I used to babysit for a lovely couple and they had guinea pigs, I fell in love with them and how quirky they were and decided that when I was next able to, I would have guinea pigs.
So several years later I found myself stable in a job, had a great place to rent and missed having lots of animals around (had left farming by then), so the time came to get my promised guinea pigs. I loved having them around and although they were not as tame as others would like, it was a joy to finally have guinea pigs. They all sadly passed and I didnt replace them (which was a good job as we all had to move out), moved into the town and missed them greatly.
Then I realised last year I really missed them, with pepper getting on in years, i cant have children (and no they are not baby substitutes), there was now nothing stopping me getting guinea pigs again. They are sort of there in my life for when the inevitable happens and I lose pepper, I cant imagine being without any animals in my home, but as I have a few health issues they are also a great comfort to me. They are my guilty pleasure, my reason to get up in the morning, to come home every day and always the best possible medicine in the world.
