Friday afternoon, we got an email from our neighbors, which read something like this:

• Very late notice, but we’ll be hanging out on our boat in Newport Sunday and would love to have you join us if you have no other plans.  Give us a ring/test and we’ll pick you up dockside to take you out to our boat.  We’ll have some food, music & drinks and watch the sun set over the bay.  Feel free to bring a friend.  Hope you can make it!

My thoughts went like this:

1. Food? Music? Drinks? Sunset? Um, yes please! Who would say no to that?
2. Hmmm… what should I make to bring to the boat?
3. Wait.  Bring a friend?  There’s already quite a few people on this list, how big is this boat, exactly?

The answer to question #1 is rhetorical.  First, let me tell you about the boat, the “True Love.”  Great name for a great couple.  High school sweethearts.  It’s moored in Newport and I must have Duffy boated past it at least a dozen times, but I never knew it was my neighbors’.  So when we arrived at the dock, we were whisked away by Tender Love (that’s the dinghy, so clever these two…).  Upon arrival at the boat, you step onto the swim step, then onto the back transom (patio), complete with fishing poles and a high top bar table.  Nice place to spend an afternoon.  Then you enter the 2SR (stateroom), 2H (Head) (yes 2!!!) through the master bedroom with rich wood closets and it’s own head.  The master is decorated in the cutest nautical greens and blues that carries through the whole boat.  Did I mention the pillows?  Oh, the pillows…

I digress… yes, the boat. If this were a home (and it could be for some), you might call it a split level.  There are no fewer than 4 different levels.  You then step up into the living room, passing a collection of starfish, and are surrounded by a wall of windows overlooking the harbor.  Our hosts had set out an offering of all kinds of snacks, which is where I left my contribution for the evening.  The living room is set above the galley (kitchen) and dining area complete with generous work space, stove, oven, fridge, wine rack, you know, all the essentials.  Behind the galley, in the bow, is the second stateroom and head, again in cute nautical colors with more of those pillows.  Above the master and a few steps up from the living room is another lounging space.  Again, windows surround the area where our hosts have a small dining table and they had set up a bar with all kinds of Boat Drinks.  There’s an ice maker.  So prepared these two.  Up another set of stairs, and up to the perch and there’s an enclosed area with a bench seat that wraps around and two more tables for those Boat Drinks you picked up at the bar.  To answer question #3, yes, we could have brought some more friends, but the Company in attendance on this night was just great on its own.

We chatted and munched on the snacks and at some point, our hosts suggested a cruise around the harbor.  Um…yes, please!  So we all piled into a Duffy (yeah, they have one of those too) and took a little cruise.  We learned some Newport Beach history in the process.

Such a fun excursion.  When we got back to the boat, we had a nice dinner of all kinds of skewers, both savory and sweet.  Very tasty.  Apparently, finding True Love is as easy as looking down the street.

Here’s the answer to question #2.

Smoked Salmon Dip

• 1 pkg cream cheese
• 1 small shallot
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 1 tbsp dill
• 2 tbsp capers, rinsed
• 1 pkg smoked salmon

Put all ingredients in a food processor, and pulse until combined.  Serve with crackers.