There are dozens of reasons why I love living in Napa, almost none of them involving wine. My fellow Napans make great neighbors and when there's a call for a party, you know the food is going to be incredible.

In other communities, I often hear about how beans are a winter food. "It's bean weather!" they say as they fight off the chills. Napa now joins India and Mexico in knowing that there is no such thing as a bean season, or that it's always bean weather.

A recent party illustrates my point. We had barbecue of all sorts, vegetables, tortillas, beer and of course, two types of beans. I feel at home among my people!