As long as the window doesn't face north, I would just give it a shot and let it be. Unless you live in a very year-round-cold, or very dry place and your outdoor space is covered, you only have to worry about bringing it inside. If it is humid outside daily watering might not always be necessary. Sometimes being gone for a week or two your plants will hurt, but still survive...depending on the plant .... you can also add material to hold water into the soil or something to wick water into the pot... . you can also try getting an automatic irrigation system if you are super worried.. then you might only have to change the water in a bucket every so often... in general though I would just worry less and let it die or thrive on whatever you can do best without anxiety. Some plants are much hardier than the instructions will say. It might last a few years and you find that you will care for it.

A lot of people keep bonsai because it emphasizes mindfulness, practice, and being present with nature. Maybe you were telling your dad one thing and what he heard was another, that you were disconnected and anxious and this is something that could help root you. either way, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth or take it personally. It's a nice gift even if it didn't have the intended effect. Unless your dad does passive aggressive stuff regularly it was a pretty sweet gesture at the least