Steve Tym,
Sorry for your loss. My first lab lived 14 years. He was my "wingman" when he was a puppy and helped me to break the ice, when I met my wife 22 years ago. He then helped raise my 2 daughters and all the other neighborhood kids, aways standing watch.
After him, I bought a black mouth cur puppy. He ended up being my little buddy that followed me everywhere. When I'd travel out of town, my wife said he would be lost, awaiting my return. When I'd come home, he'd whimper and wiggle with excitement and would never let me out of his sight. Unfortunately, he fell ill and had to be put down at 7. It still bums me out as I was out of town when he had to be put down. Sort of feel like I let him down.
I'm slowly getting prepared for another dog, but I'm not there yet. I love the joy a dog can bring, but it just seems like I've had too much other loss around me lately. It's taking me a bit to wade back into that pool, as crazy as that sounds.