Something as simple as a new red frying pan shouldn’t get me so excited, but it has. Not only will it fit into EVERY drawer in my van, it’s perfect for the kind of cooking I do. I can get a perfect pancake, one fried egg, a pork chop or a hamburger cooked quickly and with less heat than a larger pan. Easy to clean, compact, RED and well made, this is my favorite purchase of the month. There’s a handle with a slot for a carabiner so I can hang it rather than put it in a drawer. It’s enamel - easy to clean, and it’s heavy enough to tolerate the heat of a campfire. It’ll heat quickly on sterno or my alcohol or propane stoves and I can clean it with a paper towel. All for $10 at Bed-Bath-and-Beyond.

It got me thinking about the things that rock our world, or not. Does it really take a new car, an expensive new computer or pricey toy to make you happy? I’ve learned that looking at the benefits of an item make it more valuable than the price tag. This pan makes my life better, easier and more fun - which makes me happy.

It also sparked a desire to write another ebook - one on how to set up a Van Dwelling kitchen…using photos from my own kitchen (yes, the one in the van!) as inspiration and illustration.

My challenge to you is to find something in your life, your own “red pan,” and to list the benefits - the reasons it makes you happy. Compare it to something expensive, what are the benefits of each? Does price really matter? Or does what the item bring to your life mean more?