I’d love to adopt a pet, but hubby and I have made a commitment not to bring any more pets into the house until one or both of us retires. With our schedules, it just isn’t fair to the animal.
You are wise not to adopt until and unless you are ready to do so. Too many people obtain a pet, often on a whim or at the insistence of their children. When its care becomes too much for its people, the animal suffers.
I understand your position. In 1990, just a few months before Mrs. OP was to retire and have lots oftime to take care of him, a homeless dog found us at our home. It was January and, of course, cold. The little beagle captured our hearts and after ascertaining that his former owner could not be found, we took him in. He was one year old and lived with us for 16 wonderful years before succumbing to cancer.
Since then we have adopted four more dogs, three of whom are lying here as I type.
Being retired does make it much easier but I don’t think it’s necessarily a prerogative.