About a year ago while attending the Labor of Love auction benefiting Vashon Community Care, my wife Mary and I secured the winning bid for an experience aboard a houseboat in Amsterdam, Holland. The houseboat owners are again generously donating a week aboard the True Love, this time to benefit the Vashon Senior Center.

The True Love is located ideally in the old part of the city, on a quiet canal surrounded by classic and vintage Dutch architecture. Nearby are the endless canal-side cafes and fine eateries, cheese shops, small food markets and boutiques.

This floating dwelling is roomy and luxurious. Each morning, Mary and I would start our day with coffee in bed, watching the resident swans patrol the canal. The neighborhood is dead quiet from dawn until around 9 a.m. when the electric tourboats begin to slowly ply the calm and clean canal waters.

Imagine a busy day of touring, hiking, biking and poking around farmers markets and then returning to the outdoor deck of your houseboat for a waterside happy hour. Our only serious challenge was to each night decide which restaurant to visit, but if you prefer to eat in, the True Love has a full, modern kitchen.

So here’s your chance to win seven nights aboard the True Love, plus a $2,000 travel stipend, with the purchase of a lucky ticket. Only 300 will be sold: I’ve already got mine, so that only leaves 299 remaining chances. Purchase your $50 raffle ticket at the Vashon Senior Center on Bank Road.

Even if you’re not currently using this terrific island elder resource now, just wait; you will.

— Tom Langland