As a starving college student I didn’t have the money to take her to dinner but a bottle of wine, loaf of french bread and a couple cheeses went a long way on a small budget.

I took her to my favorite park overlooking the San Francisco bay and we talked for hours in the early evening. It was magical – and fortunately for me, effective. :)

Choose a place that suits her sensibilities. Me, I have no problem with a tree or a pit toilet. Others are very picky. Many parks offer some kind of facilities. Or choose a location with a place to stop on your way in/out of the picnic area.

My question is: How do you transport the dirty plates/utensils if you bring them wrapped in a blanket? Surely all the wet wipes you use cleaning them counter-acts the environmental friendliness of using real dishes? Do you wrap all used dishes in a trash bag, then wrap it with the blanket?

Also, from four years of traveling and practically living out of my car: if you cover what you are trying to keep cool, it will stay cool longer. Even in 90-degree heat with my car sitting in full sun, I could keep chocolate inside my car if I buried it under all the other things in my backseat. It got soft, but not melted. Throw a heavy blanket over your cooler.

Another thing: I prefer “gooey” cheese. The flavor is better. (I’m one of those who doesn’t put Brie in the fridge if I’m going to eat it that day.)