Celebrating 60 Years of Friendship: A Memorable Gathering

Wine & Whiskey
Jun 22
4 min read

Updated: Jul 20

This year, a big milestone crept up on my oldest friends and me: we are all turning 60, including Whiskey! To mark this occasion, a group of childhood friends from New Jersey traveled to Wolfeboro. We enjoyed four nights filled with reconnecting, reminiscing, and celebrating. It was a gathering that made us pause to reflect on the passage of time and the precious gift of lifelong friendships. These are the people who knew us back when we rode ten-speed bikes and recorded songs from the radio.

Preparations for Hosting a Special Gathering

Hosting a group is always a joy, but when the setting includes an antique house, a barn, yards, gardens, a wooden boat, and a cottage, it requires serious preparation to ensure everything is guest-ready. Whiskey and I had our hands full getting the place in shape.

The spring's relentless rain didn’t help our situation. It delayed many of our outdoor projects. Despite that, we managed through a lot of cooking, cleaning, organizing, weeding, planting, and maybe a bit of last-minute scrambling. I documented much of the prep and the fun that followed in a behind-the-scenes YouTube video — linked below if you’d like to follow along.

Watch the prep video here.

An Exciting Boat Ride

One highlight of our get-together was a boat ride on our 1929 Chris-Craft. The lake's unusually high water level due to the rain created a challenge. Navigating under the bridge near our dock required some ingenuity. Whiskey removed the boat’s windshield so we could squeeze beneath— with only about four inches to spare from the steering wheel!

We departed Wolfeboro, cruised to Paugus Bay for lunch at NASWA, meandered through Sally’s Gut, made a quick stop at Ragged Island, and then returned home through the tight squeeze once more. This adventure is also featured in the video.

The 1965-Themed Party

Saturday night was our big event: a 1965-themed party in the Barn Lounge. We invited local friends to join in. The evening was a full embrace of the era with a classic 1960s menu and playlist. Think cheese fondue, beef stroganoff, Lipton’s onion soup dip with Ruffles chips, and other vintage favorites.

The playlist began with hits from the 1960s, progressing through the 70s and 80s. It then transitioned into a live performance of rock music—with Whiskey on guitar and his high school friend, “The Chef,” on drums (his own kit, kindly on loan to the Barn Lounge). They’ve played together for decades, bringing a special energy to the night.

I didn’t take many photos of the party—just a few video clips here and there. Honestly, that was probably for the best. I was completely in the moment, soaking it all in while on my feet, greeting guests, coordinating incoming dishes brought by friends, and keeping everything running smoothly. It was one of those nights where the camera took a back seat to real life—exactly how it should be.

Watch the party footage here.

The Comfort of Familiarity

There’s something profoundly comforting about being with people you’ve known for such a long time. You don’t have to explain yourself; they just know. Even though life has taken us in various directions, our time together felt easy and timeless. The extended visit allowed us the rare gift of sitting around and talking—no rush, no agenda, just the rhythm of old friends falling back into step.

The Importance of Connection

The weekend served as a beautiful reminder of how essential it is to make space for connection. It's vital to put in the effort—even when the to-do list is long—and to celebrate the people who helped shape who you are.

Here I am with my high school besties: 1982, 2005 (40th birthday), 2025 😍

Beyond the Party: June on the Move

June flew by in a blur of planning, prepping, and party hosting, but we did manage to sneak in a few memorable getaways along the way.

First, we took a work trip to Argyle, NY. We stayed at a peaceful Harvest Hosts farm. This was a scenic pause amid the pre-party chaos. There’s a video included below.

Next, we spent two nights camping in Kennebunkport with our fellow travelers, “Bourbon” and “Coco.” It was a delightful escape. We enjoyed lunches out, cocktails overlooking the ocean, cozy dinners at camp, and live music courtesy of Whiskey and Bourbon. It was a perfect, low-key celebration of summer. (Yes, there’s a video for that too.)

After our friends went home, we hit the road once more for a work trip to Downeast Maine. This location is about 4.5 hours from home. We spent the night at a small campground and, on our way back, stopped in Bangor for lunch at a new-to-us spot: Timber Kitchen and Bar. Highly recommend that place! The décor was stylish and welcoming, and the food was fantastic.

More to Come

I’m still catching my breath from everything, but I’m enjoying the process of sorting through photos and memories while writing this post. This has been a joy-filled stretch—one I’m incredibly grateful for.

As for the weeks ahead, we are keeping things flexible, just the way we like it. Summer will unfold as it wishes. We have Barn Lounge dinners, boat rides, and garden projects planned for the horizon.

Thank you for following along—stay tuned for the videos and whatever adventures come next.

Ep. 140 - Prepping for a 60th Birthday Bash in the Barn | Garden Projects, Food, Friends & Fun!