When the time is right, you will get a pet, for sure. This is the first step, and a wise one, and that is to investigate, meditate, imagine and research.
I am a devout dog "mom" and cannot imagine my life without one (or two or three as the case is at this time!) Ok, that's not true, sometimes I envision a calm and peace that can only be found on an secluded beach with no teenagers and no dogs (especially puppies), but then I wake up and have to laugh....I love the chaos those " hairy, never go to school, never feed themselves or get a job children" bring to my life.
Talk about unconditional love!!! And men never jump up and down when you get home from work like a dog will!!!
I have probably spent thousands and thousands of dollars on sick dogs, dying dogs, dogs who have chronic conditions, etc....but until this moment, haven't really thought twice about it. It's what you do when you love a dog. That's all.
I highly recommend falling in love with a dog, or like I said, several!!!
As far as N's and pets: they treat them like any other "posession" ( including their own children.)