Charlie arrived late last fall around Christmas, you can read about it in an earlier story.   Definitely a gift.

This story is how a dog can allow you to make excuses, spend thousands, create friendships and otherwise make you happy.

This property had trails, destination points, it went up and down and all around, it was very good by almost all standards.  You could roam with your pet, on your own property for a good 20-25 minutes, from your back door.  Then Charlie and I decided we could roam even farther… maybe another large loop of 25 minutes… this is where our cast of characters begins to grow.  Meet Chip.

Chip is one true character alright and Charlie loves Chip.  Chip loves Charlie.  Chip has 80 acres abutting our 35 acres, I was trespassing as I sometimes have done in my checkered past.  Chips land is exceptional, we (me, myself and Charlie) began to determine where our trespassing was the best …  for not disturbing Chip.  I meandered several ways, bush whacking my way through.  After a month or so I actually asked for permission to trespass, with Charlie.  Since the dog was with me, it received a happy yes and off we were.  Every day Charlie took me and sometimes Shelley for great walks.  First on our property, then onto Chips.  Occasionally I would bring some loppers, then a saw, more flagging tape… I had a plan that I didn’t know I had.  That becomes another story.

We moved to Sturbridge and have known Chip since day one, first in a ghost like way, then in “good fences, make good neighbors” way, then in a practical protective land sort of way.   He and I are mostly kindred spirits, libertarian liberals with a splash of conservatism, (just so we are a bit skeptical of the goings on).  He has a wonderful family story that combines time and place and dirt and trees and land and family member that go back 3 generations  on one parcel of land.  He has my respect and admiration.   I did some mowing for Chip, dug the hole so he could bury his dog and have spent considerable time “trespassing”.

I have equipment, time and desire, Chip has rocks, dirt and trees.  Charlie likes to go for walks, I need to go for walks, Charlie needs to go see Chip, Chip likes to see Charlie.

All is good in Sturbridge since Charlie came around.