What Ingredient Determines a Lifetime?

My curiosity led to trouble

Experimenting as a kid…

Educated with disappointments,

I found joy in what I did. 

Frogs and pebbles in my pocket,

Stray friends and dogs brought home…

I was nourished by my rescues.

This loner never felt alone.

Now entering my final years,

Memories don’t fall short…

Every rescued carp and worm,

Shared a space in my safe port.

My neighbors are frustrated;

I am surrounded by “too much stuff”.

Nothing I own is garbage,

Who determines I’ve loved enough?