The Romantic Life is Outside

In the most recent issue of Real Simple, I read something along the lines of "going outside for at least 5 minutes a day makes a person calmer and more relaxed.  Being beside a body of water is even better."  I felt pretty good about myself because I was reading  

Here are some of my most frequent ways of enjoying outside:

Having a picnic in the backyard

Running
Walking in the neighborhood

Taking a stroll along our city's riverfront

Going to the mailbox and stopping to talk to neighbors

Picking John's homegrown tomatoes

Seeing what other stuff is growing in John's garden

Sitting with John in our $10 outdoor chairs

Walking to and from to the car and the grocery stores (but that one is smaller because it doesn't sound nearly as cool)

Even though it's awfully hot out there, I have to get out.  It's a must in my book.

photos via here