There are certain homes along this journey where we know almost immediately: We can relax here.

That’s how we feel when visiting our friends and former clients Laura and Bill, who once lived in Pleasanton and now enjoy life in their beautiful custom-built home.

Laura recently retired from teaching, but retirement wasn’t going to involve sitting around doing nothing. Instead, she took up baking — and not casually.

Laura now creates beautiful two-and-a-half-pound sourdough loaves, along with sweet cake desserts that she sells to local restaurants in the area. Naturally, we felt obligated to conduct some quality-control testing. It’s important work.

Their home became another wonderful place for us to regroup, restore our energy and enjoy the comfort of being with friends. And then there are their two beautiful Collies — calm, gentle and wonderfully soothing.

Laura and Bill, thank you for opening your home to us and giving us another place where we could slow down and recharge. Laura, congratulations on turning retirement into a delicious new chapter.