Being with nature is just such a wonderful human need, and so easy to fulfil. I recently moved into a small unit with a courtyard, after living in houses with large yards for years. The one thing lacking in my new little place was a hose faucet in the courtyard, so I was having to hand carry water to my potted plants and the few trees planted already. Fortunately I have a wonderful landlord, and she rectified the situation for me. I can't tell what simple pleasure it gave me when the new hose faucet went in and I could connect my hose to it. I spend time every day now watering my plants and just breathing in the air and feeling so happy at my little piece of nature. 

There is also a garden bed and I intend to plant some tomatoes soon. The person before me planted silverbeet and rosemary and mint and other herbs, and it is just the right amount of garden space for me to maintain in my 'old age'.

So sorry about poor Half-Beak, but all of nature has a life span and must end at some point in time. I worry about my cats getting hit by a car now that we don't have lots of land, but they mostly stay close to the unit, and I figure, if it happens, it happens. I lost one about 5 years ago and was grief stricken, but life went on, and I now have two lovely cats, an old one and a young one. So life is good, always replenishing us.