Meghan describes Montecito as a safe and supportive community. “Once you know us, I think you want us to have the same normalcy as parents and for our children as they do, despite however unique our situation is,” she says.

That normalcy includes simple outings with Harry and friends.

“We go to a lot of dinners, and not just in people’s homes or private rooms; we just go into the restaurant,” she shares. “I really love that we can just have fun.”

A close friend tells PEOPLE, “They’re very gentle and attentive. There’s a sweetness to their family. You can see that as a unit, they’re all very connected.”

Their daily routine includes “day dates” with quiet lunches and evening “nightcap recaps,” where they relax with a drink while discussing their day and preparing their kids’ lunches.

“I think all parents in this phase with kids the same age know it’s rinse and repeat,” she says.

They also enjoy unwinding with their favorite TV shows. “We love Shrinking; we just finished Black Doves, and we’re excited for the new season of The White Lotus,” she says.

Recently, the couple leaned on each other after the loss of Meghan’s beloved rescue beagle, Guy, a familiar presence in her kitchen throughout her new series. The impact of the Los Angeles fires also led Meghan and Netflix to delay her show’s premiere—from January to March—to focus on more pressing matters.

“I’m glad that we [paused],” she says, “and could really focus our energies on the stuff that matters.” In the aftermath of the devastation, which left around 11,000 homes destroyed, Meghan and Harry traveled to L.A. to volunteer and even hosted displaced friends in Montecito.

“It will be a really long road to recovery,” she says. “It’s my home state, and I will continue my support in whatever way I can.”