I’m back from my weekend in Karlsruhe and, as expected, it was wonderful. I really love seeing all these dear people twice a year, it never gets boring with them. My film column editor Wolfram brought me a goodie bag chock full with the most entertaining DVDs ever. It’s his way of saying thank you and let me tell you, it’s the best way to say thank you to me. I mentioned once before that to win my heart with presents, these presents would most likely have to be cinematographic. When I opened my goodie bag and found all those cool movies (I finally have Purple Rain!), I knew that I hadn’t been lying to you. My heart goes pitter-pat when I am given DVDs. Of course, this doesn’t mean my heart doesn’t go pitter-pat at the sight of a turquoise box with a white satin bow.
But today, I wanna talk about something a little different. Something crazy. You see, when I was in Karlsruhe, I saw my friend Jay again. Except this time, he had brought his dog, Charlie Sheen. Charlie Sheen is deaf, which makes him an ideal companion for Jay, since he can take him to the cinema with him. Petting Charlie Sheen, I realised once more how much I miss having a pet. I can’t have a dog in Zurich, or any other mammal that requires constant presence, supervision, food, poop-cleaning, etc. Zurich is just not that kind of city and my life is just not that kind of life. But I do miss having a pet! I tried curbing this longing by having a houseplant. It didn’t work. Within months, she had outgrown her pot and since I couldn’t have a bigger pot in my flat, I relocated her to the garden. And besides, she was pretty but also… pretty boring.
Then it struck me: a goldfish! Now, I have never considered owning a fish before. I don’t think they have a whole lot of personality and they don’t really interact with their owners much. At least not in the same loving, enthusiastic way a dog does. But just think about it: goldfish have a very limited lifespan. Ideal for someone who does not really know where she’ll be living two years from now. Goldfish have little personality: I will most likely not be devastated if it dies. Goldfish look pretty, their swimming around is soothing, the plants in the bowl swaying to and fro are relaxing to watch. Goldfish can be kept in a bowl the size of my choice (within reason) and even I am able to clean a waterbowl every two weeks. Goldfish food and equipment, as long as you don’t have too many, are cheap and easy to come by. And if I had fish, I certainly wouldn’t have more than two.
After mulling this over for two days, I decided to use my mighty Google Fu and did some research on how to keep goldfish. Survey says: if you don’t have many goldfish, they are easy to keep and good for your health (having pets, any pets, is good for our overall life expectancy and reduces stress). I read everything I found about goldfish keeping 101. It’s actually very simple. The best thing is: if you have no more than three goldfish, you can keep them in a bowl that doesn’t require a filter or an air pump (which was a worry of mine, I didn’t want to have to deal with that). If the bowl is big enough, the water surface air exchange is enough for the fish. If the air in the water isn’t enough, you notice because the fish go to the surface to take gulps of air.
At first, I thought that should I decide to have a goldfish, it would be just that: one fish. But one lone goldfish? I imagine my life wouldn’t be much fun all alone in a bowl. In fact, it isn’t much fun all alone in my bowl. Since I’m not one to take out my problems on others (if I can at all help it), I think that if I should really do this, I’d get two fish.
It sounds like a perfect plan. The only catch (no pun intended) is: goldfish need to be fed about every two days. What if I’m gone for a few weeks? It does occasionally happen that I’m out of Switzerland for some weeks at a time, in which case I’d have to make sure the fish get fed. I have a neighbour and a friend or two who would probably do this, but is it really ideal?
I really want a pet. I can’t have a mammal. I can’t have anything really but a goldfish because any other non-mammal pet requires a lot more equipment (expensive!) and complicated care. Except maybe a tarantula and my intense arachnophobia kinda gets in the way of that. What if it gets out? Freaks me out just thinking about it.
So as far as pets go, goldfish seem to be the only option. And since I like water and fish and could use a lot less stress in my life, it doesn’t seem to be a bad option. What I really want is a dog. But this is for someday, a long time in the future probably. I would never get a dog in a dog-unfriendly city and I would never get one if I couldn’t guarantee being there for it sufficiently. And since I cannot, at this stage, even begin to tell when that will be, my dog plans are on hold indefinitely. But I am missing the presence of a little soul in my life, something to care for and something that does me some good.
So, my dear readers, what do you think? Should I do this? Shouldn’t I? Do you think I’m sublimating for all the wrong reasons or do you think this would do me some good? Do you have any goldfish-related stories/experiences you would like to share? I’m eager to know!
Live long and prosper, peace,
Anna
