Sorry for your loss man.
I have a close relative that has a border collie and it is the only one I have ever had the pleasure of knowing well. He is about 10 now and has zero need for humans. It is really quite amazing. He sleeps in a kennel in the laundry room with no door on the kennel. He lets himself out through a doggie door in the morning and doesnt come back in all day. They used to lock the doggie door but he figured out what they wanted so now, unless it is storming and he wants in his kennel, he stays out til dark. He makes sure the animals in the pasture are aware of his presence but mostly leaves them alone.
They went to Cancun for four days and just left him extra food. He drinks out of the horse trough anyway. In fact they spend several nights a month in other places and never even think about boarding him or anything like that.
His only real downside is he likes fetch. A LOT. I mean a LOT. And can be persistent. He would chase a tennis ball into a tornado.
Just an amazingly smart dog. Smartest dog I have ever been around by a mile.
Sorry for the rant and sorry for your loss.