Sometimes, satisfaction is a difficult thing to recognize, but finding it and appreciating it are important to our self perception and quality of life. Many of us spend nearly a lifetime accumulating material possessions and asserting our social influence for the general purpose of making life better for ourselves and our posterity. It's a never ending battle. When do we decide we have enough "stuff" and it's time to slow down and enjoy some of it?

The autumn breeze gently swings the near empty hummingbird feeder hanging on its post in the middle of the parsley patch. It's about time to store the feeder for the coming winter. The hummingbirds are beginning their migration to warmer roosts.

I get more pleasure from my little herb garden than I ever imagined it could provide. The parsley gets fertilized by bird droppings and is nearly maintenance free. It regenerates itself from the seeds of the previous crop. My basil grows abundantly and makes some impressive pesto. My rosemary bush is ginormously bountiful and I'm pleased to share cuttings with friends and neighbors. The oregano is not doing as well as it has in years past, I may need to start a new patch of that next spring. My sage grows like a bonsai and entertains me with its twisty gnarly branches. Good thyme is always just a snip away.

Cooking with fresh herbs has caused me to change the way I think about life. Each meal is an opportunity to experiment with new flavor combinations or revisit old favorites in a comfortable and satisfying way. Garnish slices of cantaloupe with finely chopped basil. Add thyme and cilantro to coleslaw for a remarkable treat. Grill chicken breasts in the smoke from sage, rosemary and thyme branches, then garnish with parsley for a Scarborough love potion chicken.

There's a parallel relationship between my herb garden and our swinging activities. We savor erotic encounters with deliciously sexy friends and anticipate the spice of exploring a sexual opportunity with new acquaintances. Variety is truly the spice of life.