Sorry, You're Just Not Ready to Own a Dog

Since I learned the word, my only desire in life has been to own a dog. Every birthday I blew out my candle with the same wish—a golden retriever puppy with a red collar and too-large paws for its tiny body.

My parents are good at a lot of things, one of them being steadfastness. Needless to say, I never got a dog.

Throughout my adult years, I have continued to pester dear ol' mom and dad, fully knowing they will never waver. They love dogs, but travel often and do not want the responsibility of finding a sitter or boarding.

As my college graduation approached this spring, my parents reminded me that I could get my own dog if I so choose. The thought of that intrigued and excited me. I couldn't wait to find a nearby shelter and adopt my "furever" puppy.

Then life happened. It happened to me much like it is probably happening to you, recent grad.

I got a job. I found an apartment. Then I did some math and found out I couldn't afford much else after paying rent for said apartment. My dream of a dog was demolished.

On top of the cost associated with rescuing and caring for a living creature, I no longer had the summertime-free schedule years of education had conditioned me for.

Instead, I delighted myself with six o'clock alarms and large cups of coffee at 3 PM in the middle of June. I have as little time as I have energy.

How could I possibly keep up with an energetic ball of fluff that couldn't make up its mind between inside or outside 90 percent of the day?

My darling nephew has convinced me I am not ready for children at this age. How could a puppy be that much different?

The sweet images of lunchtime strolls through the park with my playful pup have been disrupted by my 40-minute city transit commute.

Afternoon doggy snuggles on the sofa are a work of fiction since my couch is white...and belongs to my roommate.

Sneaking scraps under the table to a sniffing shnoop is as unrealistic as me even having scraps to give (I am a poor and hungry millennial, after all).

The truth of the matter is, it just isn't the right time.

When I think of owning a dog, I think of daily walks, frequent trips to the park, playing fetch in the yard, and taking naps by the fireplace or in the beams of sunlight that stream through the front windows.

Thinking about it more deeply, I seem to associate owning a dog with home ownership.

A home is a permanent residence. A place to put down roots and establish a way of life. In some ways, dogs are similar in their permanence. They are a long-term relationship—requiring care, upkeep, attention, and love.

My apartment-living, side-hustling, single lifestyle is built for freedom, travel, and the temporary.

A dog deserves more than my get-up-and-go mindset and a few pats before I head out for evening drinks or a weekend away.

My goals used to be (1) graduate college, (2) get a job, (3) get a dog, but now I've realized that there are so many things I want to do before I can give a living being the significance it deserves in my life.

A dog is still in my future, but perhaps it will come after another milestone that better prepares me to care for it and enjoy life with a furry companion by my side.