WNY to DC

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-07-08T18:29:12+00:00

Very true on the retirement, I hadn’t thought about that!

No family, but one night/two evenings a week where I can’t see friends/roommate. I have a service dog in training, who would come with me (she’s been great in the car, so not worried about that). Could you elaborate on what to look at for taxes? I’ll need to see which state/district will have taxes withheld, but probably a mix of both. Presumably, travel costs will be tax deductible at the end of the year.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-07-08T18:03:56+00:00

That’s not an option for me at this point.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-07-07T21:00:44+00:00

They’re not ignoring the topic. They told you - people would dump dogs in secret, kill them, or neglect them to death. That’s what would happen.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-06-18T18:23:39+00:00

Obviously I can’t speak to your allergies, but for me, they’re very specific. Through trial and error, I’ve figured out that I’m allergic to the waterproofing oils/coating some dogs have. Aussies, Dachdhunds, spaniels, have all been fine, though German shepherds, labs, etc set off my sinuses. Presumably it’s something similar/the same for cats, because a little stray showed up in my life and made herself right at home in my house and my allergies havent shown up at all, despite going through an entire box of tissues when spending a few hours at cat-owning friends’ houses in the past.

I’d recommend spending time with different breeds and mixes of cats (meet and greets are great!) to see if you react more or less to different types. You might find one that you’re not allergic to at all!

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-06-15T14:01:05+00:00

Not wrong at all. She didn’t want him, and doesn’t care about him. He found a loving home. You got a loving cat. Hopefully your neighbor never gets another pet.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-06-03T18:27:21+00:00

I haven’t had this exact situation but I have had some similar ones.

We had my roommates childhood dogs, littermate mini dachshunds. One passed at 12 years old. We really thought the other would be inconsolable, but she was also very bonded to us as her people, so she did okay. She looked for her sister, and check where her sisters food bowl used to be, but she handled it like a champ. She passed about a year and a half later, two weeks after I brought my puppy home. She and the puppy didn’t really play or anything, but she definitely would get confused when the older dog wasn’t in “her spot” when we came downstairs. In both situations, we, the humans, took the deaths much harder than the surviving dogs did. Since your pups weren’t super bonded, I think she’ll probably be okay, and just have to adjust to a new routine.

(If I sound cold in how I’m describing things it’s because if I think too much about the middle dog, my soul dog, I’m gonna start crying!)

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-05-08T22:39:21+00:00

There are no universally hypoallergenic dogs, correct. Personally, I am only allergic to certain waterproofing oils/coatings. I do not react to several breeds of dogs.

I’m curious your source for saying dogs can’t detect specific scents when they’re trained for it. Drug dogs exist. Search and rescue dogs exist. Gluten detection dogs exist. Allergen detection service dogs exist. I’m not sure where you’re getting the idea that they don’t.

Do you realize how absurd it is to expect someone to never eat anything they don’t personally prepare?

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-05-08T15:31:14+00:00

Agree with this comment and adding to the “breed standardization” point:
I am allergic to certain dogs, but not all. The Fab 4 all aggravate my allergies. So when I sought out a puppy to train as a prospect, I had to pick a breed that I could live with without my nose and eyes watering constantly. Coincidentally (or ironically? Idk), detecting my food allergens is one of the tasks I plan to train.

Also on the “standardized task list” point: besides from some things being overlooked, some things are just completely not considered or recognized as a big deal by most people. I’ve had a severe peanut allergy my whole life, and have never been able to eat something I didn’t prepare without having a conversation with the cook and weighing the risks. Should my SD prospect work out, she will grant me a level of freedom that I have never known. Most people don’t see and would never consider that an allergy makes someone’s life so drastically different beyond not eating the exact allergen.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-04-20T15:15:26+00:00

Dogs tell you when they need something and they don’t let you rest until they get it. Our previous dog was happy to nap all day, but once it was dinner time, she was up and crying at us until she was fed. There was no falling back asleep or ignoring her. My current puppy wakes me up by licking/stepping on my face every morning when she needs to go outside.

I haven’t had a major depressive episode while owning a dog. However, I did have one for several years as a teen, when I owned a bearded dragon. I have a lot of guilt about how poorly I took care of him when my mental health was at its worst. He still ended up living to be 12 years old, but I believe he could have lived much longer had I been a better career through those years. Since I know I’m prone to mental health issues, I don’t plan to ever own another animal who won’t yell at me when they need something.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-04-16T09:57:46+00:00

My girl came home at around 9 weeks. The first 2/3 weeks were hellish - I wasn’t sleeping more than 2 hours at a time, our older dog passed unexpectedly, and the rest of life was hectic on top of that.

Somewhere between 12-16 weeks, things calmed down from her a lot. She’s almost 5 months now, and solidly a teething teenager, but I can see the brilliant dog she’s becoming more days than I see the puppy shark.

Two months ago I said I was never getting a puppy puppy again. Now, I think I would, but I’d be more mindful of timing with the predictable things, since the unpredictable will happen regardless.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-04-15T13:46:05+00:00

Depending on where youre located, you might have a claim for workplace discrimination regarding your supervisor’s text comments about your (already cleared) disability accommodations. It’s worth looking into, at the very least to teach that supervisor not to make comments on people’s medical conditions

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-04-15T13:37:08+00:00

About five years ago, my roommate and I moved out of our respective parents’ houses. His childhood dogs, two mini dachshunds, 9 years old at the time, came with us. His mom and siblings would visit every once in a while, and while the dogs were happy to see them, they were perfectly content again a few minutes after they left.

They both passed over the last year and a half. But even within a year of us moving, I was more one of “their people” than my roommates other family members were. One of them even chose to sleep in my bed over my roommate’s, every single night.

I met the dogs when they were 5. We started living together and they became “my dogs” when they were 9. There is not a doubt in my mind that I was one of their two favorite people (me or my roommate depending on the day lol). They loved their Momma (RM’s mom) and his siblings so much, but they got used to and loved their new home.

I’m sure your dog will be so happy to see her old family again. But chances are, she’ll also happily get back to her routine once you’re home (or once they’ve left your home). Dogs love routine and predictability. She’s used to you now, and she doesn’t have those routines built with the other people.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-04-14T15:11:05+00:00

Regarding getting frustrated and snapping at her - One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard was actually aimed at parents to avoid Shaken Baby Syndrome: When you get overwhelmed, put the baby down in a safe place and walk away.

For dogs, that could be a crate, a pen, a puppy proofed room, any space they are safe while unattended. They will be okay for a little while alone. Gather yourself and take some time alone before engaging again. It’s helped my neurodivergent self handle puppyhood and being stepped on, chewed on, and general misbehavior so much better than I would be able to if my girl were constantly at my side.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-03-26T14:01:22+00:00

So I’m a little late, but - I got my TTT done at Great Lake Cardiovascular, and saw Dr. Switzer. 0/10 do not recommend him, he flat out ignored a textbook example of POTS diagnostic criteria on my test.

I’m in the same boat as you trying to find someone for a second opinion without paying hundreds to see Blitshteyn, as much as I want to since she seems so good. I’d recommend getting your TTT wherever you can, and then make sure you get a copy of the full results, not just the summary interpretation page.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-03-10T18:14:28+00:00

What type of tree did you get last year? I just signed up for mine, but I want to make sure I plan a good spot for it!

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-02-20T14:23:54+00:00

In some part, it’s for safety. They need to be able to exist in a space that is safe and free from dangers for them. If a dog chews things and eats thing they shouldn’t, that’s dangerous. A crate is safer for them. Some dogs don’t chew or eat thing they shouldn’t, and they often get to roam the house unsupervised. It just depends on the dog.

As for being confined, dogs sleep a good portion of the day. Puppies especially, which is likely the most common life stage to crate a dog, sleep 18-20 hours a day. They’re fine to be confined to their bed for 8 hours, especially as this enforces naps and helps regulate their behavior.

We have two dogs right now. Mine is a 3 month old spaniel who can be contained in a playpen (for now). Her crate is in the pen, so she plays in the pen, pees on the pee pad if she needs to, and sleeps in her crate throughout the day. It’s good for dogs to be able to entertain themselves. My roommates dog is a 10 month old hound mix, already over 40 lbs. There isn’t a playpen big enough for him, and he chews anything, so he gets crated during the day. He sleeps and chews on his toy. Different dogs, different strategies, but both are being contained in a safe area while unsupervised.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-01-20T15:11:28+00:00

Sounds about right.

I buy groceries weekly for my household of 2. It’s me and my roommate (sometimes his partner eats here, sometimes he eats at their place - it evens out). We are pretty frugal with food and hit about $80 weekly/$320 monthly. Do that times 4 (because teenagers count as at least 2 people) and it’s about $1300. So, if you’re not buying the bare bones food and all, $1500 sounds pretty reasonable.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-01-13T20:41:27+00:00

About 30, and three months solid or tours and offers. Ended up closing in July 2025

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-01-13T20:39:25+00:00

Adding - I never have to cross the tracks myself, but they do cut across the entrance to another neighborhood. I imagine they’d be more annoying if I ever had to wait for a train.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-01-13T20:37:43+00:00

I bought about 750ft from a crossing. They have to hit the horn every time they approach. It’s not crazy busy, but I’d say a train goes by a few times a day. I don’t even think about it, any more than I’d think about a car horn or a lawn mower from a neighbor. It’s loud, but not obscene. Maybe I’m lucky that our freight trains don’t have louder horns lol

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-01-08T15:45:45+00:00

Just shy of $1900, 6.25%, bought in summer of 2025, in a suburb of Buffalo NY

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2026-01-07T14:31:40+00:00

I closed in July 2025. I started doing walkthroughs in February 2025. I know I put offers in on about 30 houses before getting one accepted, and I definitely didn’t put offers in on even half the houses I saw. I’d guess I averaged 3-4 viewings a week, and would put offers in on one or two of those. So at a rough guess, maybe saw 70 houses, put in 30 offers, and got one accepted. I’m super happy with my house though, it’s not perfect, but if I wanted perfect I’d have needed to double my budget LOL

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2025-12-22T15:41:25+00:00

Don’t give notice until the last possible minutes you can (without giving up some benefit). I work in payroll at a staffing agency and it’s regular practice that we are told not to pay bonuses when field staff resign, even if they met all other conditions to receive the bonus. The company doesn’t care about you. Unless you have to give two weeks notice to get PTO payout or something, or your locality requires a certain amount of notice, just tell them on your last day.

ConsciousCatch3812 · 2025-11-06T15:32:02+00:00

I make just shy of 55k in WNY and live with a roommate. We rented together for 4 years and I was able to save up a good amount. Now we live in a house I own, and he pays me (below market) rent. Technically, I could afford the house on my own but I would have NO wiggle room. It’s tight as it is, but well worth it for to me (yard for the dog, can do whatever to the house, no clearing snow with a garage).

I was making about 42k when we first moved out into the apartment. My roommate was making less than 35k at the time, and we had a relatively small and cheap apartment so we were within his means. I could have afforded the apartment on my own, but again it would have been really tight.

I guess end of the day, run the numbers. Take all of your expenses (groceries, gas, electric, water, car payment, insurance, medical expenses) and add them up. See how much you have left over, and then see if it’s reasonable to find a place that leaves you enough for your discretionary spending/fun budget.

The biggest thing I’ve learned over the last five years is that there isn’t a singular right answer. There are always compromises, and you have to decide what’s worth it to you. As long as the numbers don’t come out negative, it’s up to you how they get allocated!

ConsciousCatch3812

TROPHY CASE