For a long time, I thought travel only counted if it required a passport. I grew up dreaming of faraway places and spent much of my career chasing them. The farther the destination, the better the story. A weekend away was nice, but it never felt like a true escape unless I was crossing an ocean, fumbling through another language, or collecting a stamp in my passport.
Then something funny happened. I got older.
Part of growing up, I’ve learned, is realizing that a good life isn’t built entirely around getting away from it. It’s learning to appreciate where you are. And, if we’re being honest, that lesson tends to hit a little harder when you’re the one making the mortgage payment.
These days, some of my favorite summer memories happen much closer to home. They’re found outside with friends, maybe one more drink than advised. They’re mornings with a coffee, checking in on the garden. That’s what this issue celebrates—your own backyard.
Inside, you’ll find a pool hang built around the art of gathering well. But what I love most about it isn’t the menu or the setting, it’s the reminder that some of life’s best moments aren’t found somewhere else. They’re created right where you are.
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