This week I took care of a friend’s cat. It started a few years ago when a different friend offered me the use of their beautiful home for a few weeks, with one request: that I give daily attention to their cat. I had a lovely stay outside of the city, playing with the prickly beast whenever he allowed it, and came away feeling like the friendship had deepened. It also struck me as a creative, reciprocal exchange of resources.

Later I heard psychotherapist Esther Perel say, in a conversation about modern loneliness and connection, “We have hundreds of virtual ‘friends’ but no one we can ask to feed the cat.”

Now, I don’t have a cat, nor do I particularly want one. But I could be someone people ask to feed the cat.

So I let word get around that I pet-sit for friends, and over time, it’s become something I do a few times a year. A tangible way to practice interdependence with non-virtual friends.

Sometimes people are confused to hear there’s no money involved. I’ve also been asked if I’d travel to someone’s city to watch their pet. Or child, even. Neither is what I meant, though I suppose my intent isn’t the most legible. And since it doesn’t need to be, I just carry on.

I’m feeling content at publishing these notes 52 weeks in a row!