Going Home

In 2023 I sought to do something tangible about the Russia-Ukraine war which was marked by the invasion by Russia, on February 24, 2022, of Ukraine, a sovereign nation.

I had been supporting Ukraine financially, but I felt there was more I could do.

I was renting at the time.

I obtained the gracious permission of my landlord to offer a spare bedroom to some Ukrainians.

Photo: author

I didn’t yet know who they were.

But, with millions of Ukrainians purportedly fleeing their country of some 40 million, I knew there were bound to be some seeking shelter.

The website where I registered showed hosts in many countries, not just Europe.

I had 3 caveats, which I admit may be more a reflection of me than my charges:

I wanted no babies.

I wanted no smokers.

I wanted no pets.

This last actually had to do with my lease, which stated in no uncertain terms: ‘No Pets.’

I was on a month-to-month rental basis by then, but I assumed my landlord still preferred no pets.

Of course, I preferred their being clean and neat, but how do you assess that?

One person’s mess may be another person’s treasure.