As I stepped out of the camper, I saw Jim already had a warming fire roaring. Porter, luxuriating in the warmth of his new coat, lay curled up on his camp pad asleep. Aspen inched closer to my chair, ever the lap Lab, wanting to be as close as possible.

It had been a, nearly unprecedented, month since we had been out in nature, living in the camper. The weekend had dawned clear but cold, mornings greeting us with ice covered windows and crispy sand, but the days were winter pleasant. Meaning, of course, that if one was wearing long underwear, several layers, and a jacket, it was comfortable to sit outside to enjoy that rare winter sunshine and a glass of wine!

A client of Jim’s had given him a lovely treat, a bottle of 2010 De Ponte Cellars Pinot Noir, a wine that cried out to be enjoyed with grilled meat!  Grilled asparagus, garlic bread, succulent rib-eye steaks, and a creamy avocado-mango salad made for 5* camp dining. Luxury under the stars. Combined with the warmth of a crackling fire, flickering candlelight, and a million stars overhead, I felt content to the deepest regions of my soul.

That morning, as we had walked the beach with the dogs, Jim had pulled me close and said “This is all I need”. That night, our little family sitting close around the fire, I was experiencing the same intense emotion. We simply don’t require much. Our happiness is intertwined in being together, being with the dogs, and being in nature. The result: Priceless.