Ray,

I at first thought "residence #18" what's that, is that like the "White
House" or "US Naval Observatory" (the Vice President's mansion). I thought
you were making a reference to a place where you were at the current moment
when sending the email, and that it was some federal government residence
that I ought to recognize by reference.

Then (after a while, thought process not working fast here) it occurred to
me that you probably meant that this is the 18th home that you have called
your permanent residence. Is that it? If so, it's only your 18th, and you
are 52. Hey, that's a stable life you've been living! I had lots of trouble
putting together the list of all the addresses I have lived in for the past
10 years for the US citizenship application, I think I came up with 8, and
if I had to go over my entire life that would be 12 so far, and I am only 30
years old. And I am not an army brat, and not a federal brat, or anything
like that ... come to think of it I don't consider myself a brat at all.
Though I guess most brats do not consider themselves one. ;-)

I am hoping to have more residences in the future, because I want more space
for my orchids, and ideally a greenhouse someday, and it's hard to have that
in an apartment. But I do hope not to have to change residences at quite
such a rate any more. I think it might be traumatic for the orchids to need
to get acclimated to a new space so often. (Though this is true, I am mainly
kidding, as I am not quite such an orchid nut to arrange my life for the
benefit of the orchids alone. I have told my husband though that I do hope
to someday grow roots like a turnip, meaning settle down in one place.)

Joanna

"Ray" wrote in message
...
Federal Government brat...

My current location is actually residence # 18