Doug and Erika started dating in 2021 after forming a friendship at work in Washington DC. Doug lived in Decatur, Alabama, and Erika lived in Arlington, Virginia, when they first met. They dated long-distance for a couple of years and had a very interesting experience getting to know each other during COVID, when it felt like the entire city of DC and surrounding areas were shut down. They reminisce about the days of meeting at a bar for drinks and having dividers between them and tables separating them from the bar. All the masks, separation, vaccines, and other COVID craziness didn’t stop them from dating and falling in love. Doug and Erika make the best of every situation, even when plans change, and have developed a deep love for each other. They discovered early on that they both share a passion for traveling and have been all over in their short time together including: Alabama, Hawaii, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Portugal, countless other places, including multiple trips to Key West and San Diego. They plan to continue traveling and they both dream of a European trip in the near future. Doug and Erika purchased a home together in Feb 2023 putting their long-distance relationship in the past and making their dream of living on the water and purchasing a sail boat a reality. They live in Kent Narrows with a boat slip housing their 37-foot Hunter sailboat and they both share a passion for the sailing life. They take weekend trips with their Doodle Daughter Dazy to St. Michael’s, Rock Hall, Tilghman Island, and other destinations on the Chesapeake Bay. Doug and Erika feel blessed to have such amazing friends and family in their life, especially blessed with the closeness that they have been able to forge with each others families, and most importantly they feel blessed for having found each other and getting to spend the rest of their lives in love.