Um, ferrets are the long skinny ones. They come in a bunch of different colors. I think you might be thinking of guinea pigs. [Needy's smiling a little, but not because she's laughing at Esther. She's just amused in general. It's kind of a funny turn in the conversation.]

I'm from Minnesota; it can be pretty cold there too. And wet. But there's a lot of greenery and open spaces.