There is something supremely satisfying about a life that is self-contained, complete unto itself. Thoreau lived such a life on Walden Pond. I like to imagine living in just such splendid isolation in a setting of my own choice in a secluded A Peaceful Retreat.

This simple cabin provides everything a man needs to sustain a rewarding life. The stream is pristine; I can drink its pure waters. It teems with fish; my boat lets me pursue the mountain trout when I choose. The woods abound with game. My cozy Adirondack chair invites me to relax and savor the refreshing mountain breeze. I’ve stacked firewood for the campfire that will warm the chill evening air. Above all, I am surrounded by beauty that feeds my spirit with endless reminders of God’s grace.

–Thomas Kinkade

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