Hey!

Anxiety sucks, and stress at work sucks, I'm sorry to hear it. I worked retail for a time and honestly, I could never go back. It's extremely stressful, much more so than people think, and compounded with anxiety...ugh, I'm sorry. Perhaps you could start searching for a new job? Somewhere a little more easy-going, where you'd feel more comfortable bringing your dog? Dog daycares, Vet clinics, or shelters? Or even a warehouse of some sort? I worked as an auto-parts-picker for a time and it was probably my favourite job.

$1,500 is a lot of money, and you definitely shouldn't think less of yourself for "only" having that amount. It's hard to be disciplined enough to save steadily and successfully, so good on you!

You should definitely consider Seattle, at least until you're able to realize your dream of moving to Vancouver. I'm from Alberta myself, and I actually prefer Seattle to Vancouver, but I guess that would depend on your reason for wanting to be in Vancouver.

As far as relationships go, I just want to say that I felt super cut off from my parents when I was 21 as well. I have a really close relationship with my mom, but around like 19 - 22 we just...couldn't. Just put your best foot forward with them. Maybe try reaching out to your mom?

As for your gal, you both sound confused. I think maybe you should try and distance yourself from her a little until you can figure out what you want from a relationship. Is an open relationship something you'd be comfortable with, or are you only considering it because of this particular girl?

Anyway, I hope things work out for you. It's super brave to consider moving away from home.