Working Together

Several years ago, a friend of my wife and I inquired if we would be interested in serving at a wine tasting event in Buffalo Gap. We shuffled the kidos off to the grandparents and spent an entertaining and informational day pouring wines for this tasting. For the last three years we've continued our participation with this annual event. Each year we meet new wine makers, get introduced to some fascinating wines, and learn a little more about the art of pairing wines with dishes.

What's more important is the enjoyment my wife and I find in sharing time together at these events. There's something to be said for finding a interest you and your spouse share, and investing in that interest. Despite the fact we are actually working the events, we typically come away enriched. Our knowledge about wines and food pairings is enriched, but what's more is that our relationship is enriched. We actually spend hours talking with each other for days following the event. We talk about the people we meet, the wines we encountered, and the food we tasted. We talk about how the event seemed to flow, the other volunteers we meet, and conversations we had with patrons that attended these events.

Now I would not recommend that all couples volunteer to serve at a wine tasting, but I would recommend that couples identify a shared interest and identify ways to invest in these interests. Our experience has informed us that it doesn't matter as much what the activity is, it's the shared interest and how it is able to grow that matters.