It used to be that when married couples reached their 25th anniversary, they had a party, got a bunch of ugly dishes with the number ’25’ emblazoned upon them and the wife begged for, and received, some bling. I’m not sure what the husband got…maybe just a happy wife?

That era has mercifully left us, though I understand a lot of couples go on a nice all-inclusive vacation or a cruise or dine out somewhere fine. They generally loll about, reveling in their accomplishment of being married when all the odds are stacked against the entire enterprise.

So what does it mean that for our pending 25th wedding anniversary, Kevin & I have decided to go on a 285-kilometer hike in Wales? Are we quite daft? Wouldn’t it be better to lay on a chaise lounge on the deck of a ship?

It sounds good except for one detail…we’d both go quite mad after about 15 minutes. We’re not really a lay-by-the-pool couple.

Which brings me back to our little holiday here at the Watermark Beach Resort. We watched the people draping towels to mark their chairs as early as 7 am this morning. Not for us. Oh no.

Instead we decided to do a little hike. We started walking the Osoyoos Canal Trail at the Visitor center, reached the Desert Center, did a little interpretive loop there, and hiked back…13.5 sweaty kilometers through beautiful sage, vineyards, apple orchards and pepper farms; a lovely training trek for our upcoming hike in Wales.

There was a reward after we finished…a fabulous bowl of tomato-basil soup at Dolci Artisan Fare

And now? I’m thinking we might be a lay-by-the-pool couple after all. Perhaps a chaise lounge, a martini and my book. Maybe even a quick nap before dinner.

And who knows, if I’m lucky I just might get a silver chip-and-dip platter on the big day.