When I bought my first house years ago, it was a pretty exciting day. I found an affordable place surrounded by trees on a dead end road. It came with a nice barn and a few acres of land. Truth be told, it's a bit of a swamp as much of Lisbon is, but at least it’s my swamp.

I was pretty excited that day. I'd lived in many apartments over the years and I'd owned a small house trailer prior to that, but not the land underneath it.

Buying your first home is an exciting endeavor. It's a strange juxtaposition to gain the freedom that comes with owning a home while also committing to be a prisoner of debt for 30 years. But philosophical ponders aside, I remember well that on the day I was set to move in, before I entered the house I selected a spot for my fire pit.

It may sound a bit ridiculous, but I was sure then and maintain today that the choice was an important one.

I knew it would be the most hallowed location on my property.

It was where I'd likely have some of my best memories and where I'd go to escape from life's problems and celebrate the successes.

It was the place I'd enjoy the company of friends and family members. It was a place I knew I'd search introspectively with the comfort of the flames.

I didn't know then, but it was also the location my sons would first sleep in a tent and where they'd learn to light and tend a fire.

It was a place where we'd cook s'mores, and hotdogs on skewers and listen to stories and exchange laughs.

I knew the levity of this decision and set myself to work. I dug it out just a bit, gathered some stones and constructed and created the shrine which I still enjoy more than a decade later and will continue to enjoy for years to come.

In the spring, summer and fall I can often be found wearing the scent of smoke and it's a smell I love. For me there are few things I enjoy more than sitting by a fire and I know I'm not alone.

I'm no scientist but I hold it to be an indisputable fact that life is better when you're sitting around a fire. Music sounds better, beers taste better and company is always better when there's a fire to huddle around.

I'd wager that sitting around a fire is one of the first forms of human entertainment. I've seen a variety of claims about when that sort of thing first took place, but from my limited research it sounds like there is at least some possibility that it started more than 1 million years ago.

I don't know too many things that have endured so long and remain in such high regard, but I know it predates all known languages, religions and societies as we know them today, which is pretty amazing.

I think part of the magic of the fire is that when I’m sitting near one I often  reminisce on all the fires I’ve enjoyed before. It’s also something my oldest ancestors probably did as well, which is wild to think about.

Summer’s in full swing now and will be gone before you know it. So please don’t waste too much time inside watching television because I assure you, you’ll make better memories sitting around the fire. 

Jimmy Lawton is the News Editor of North Country This Week and NorthCountryNow.com