Regina - I absolutely understand! I work at a school as an ESE teacher assistant. I would never, ever want to be a teacher ... even for the little bit of extra pay (so not worth it for all the after hours work teachers do!). I am often wiped out after work, but do like to go putter (pull a few weeds here and there and deadhead some plants), but digging is NOT on the agenda until the weekend or a no school day if I have the time between doing laundry, cleaning house, grocery shopping, etc. I also work summer school, so I get a VERY short summer break. But much of my major gardening (moving plants) is done during the weeks before school starts in August (which I have to be very careful of as I've had a close call with heat exhaustion) or during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Spring breaks. I sometimes joke to my co-workers and tell them I am glad to be back in school so I can rest!
When I do the major gardening projects, it is very physical work and I do it all alone. No helpers willing - here at my house, even though there are 2 male family members living with me. (I've got some muscles in my arms and I am one tough cookie when it comes to lifting 40-60 lb bags or hardscaping that is concrete!
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Gardening (puttering) is VERY relaxing to me after an exhausting and stressful day. It helps me to unwind and calm down like nothing else I've found. Gives me a much needed mental break, too.
Must be the strain of bacterium in soil, Mycobacterium vaccae, which has been found to trigger the release of seratonin - See more info about that at:
http://www.hortmag.com/blogs/g...
