quackademic<p>Love everything about this, from the always insightful Bec Shaw. <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@brocklesnitch" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>brocklesnitch</span></a></span> </p><p>Being recognised & greeted by our local cats & dogs & magpies - along with watching trees, & sky, & looking at other people’s houses & gardens & wondering about their lives - is the big joy in my daily walk (yes I am autistic. Surprise!!). My own two ditsy rescue cats are equal citizens & happiness engines in their own scruffy home & (enclosed) garden. </p><p>Downside of taking cat responsibilities seriously is that my partner & I can never go away together! Please Bec, if you’re up for a holiday in Melbourne please be in touch. We need more people like you.</p><p>More than that, I wish you - & everyone - had your own safe home. Cowardice & abrogation of responsibility in housing policy is normal in Australia, even though the evidence has been in for decades. That is continues is a choice. We see you, our federal Labor government, & will vote accordingly. </p><p><a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/Cats" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Cats</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/SimplePleasures" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SimplePleasures</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/inequality" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>inequality</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/housing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>housing</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/PolicyChoices" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PolicyChoices</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/AusPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AusPol</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/ALP" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ALP</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.au/tags/Greens" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Greens</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/14/renting-has-robbed-me-of-precious-cat-years-so-ive-turned-to-pet-sitting-to-fill-the-void?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">theguardian.com/commentisfree/</span><span class="invisible">2025/aug/14/renting-has-robbed-me-of-precious-cat-years-so-ive-turned-to-pet-sitting-to-fill-the-void?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other</span></a></p>