It was cold, I want to say around 20 degrees in February 2021 when Bethany and I met on our first date. We met at Hidden Falls Park along the Mississippi River and went for a walk. It ended up being a much longer walk than either of us expected; walking about 10 miles and passing Watergate Marina which has become and will continue to be a big part of our life together.

As we continued to date through the midst of covid we found a love for travel and short, mini adventures. We purchased sea kayaks and that first summer experienced the Apostle Island life, paddling from island to island.

That summer, six months in we bought an RV together. Though short lived (and a beast to drive) it represents the type of life that Bethany and I have built together.

In the summer of 2022 we moved in together by buying a powerboat to live on during the summers in Saint Paul. We ended up living at Watergate Marina on the Mississippi river, (moving the boat 40+ miles on day 1 to the new marina without ever having driven a boat that large) and later fell in love with a life on the water.

Winters continued to be a source of strain (okay, complaint) from Jared and after a wonderful 2022 summer on the boat we joined a site called Landing, packed up our car and cat Stella and headed southeast for the winter.

This was where we fell into a groove and really solidified a love for exploring places slowly. From parks to restuarants, local activities, and new culture and people we loved the slow-travel life that the winter of 2023 provided for us.

2024 brought another big move, this time purchasing a boat brokerage business out in Everett Washington. The business was exhausting and a pretty miserable experience but it reminded us even more of the type of life that we want to live.

In the midst of the business we bought a Tayana Vancouver 42 sailboat; a beautiful, heavy old boat that we have now lived aboard since December 2024.

While at Watergate marina we would see the Magnolia Blossom come and go throughout the weekends and always discussed getting married on the boat. We've decided to do exactly that. Closing the circle on a place that we crossed when first meeting, living and finding a life of love on the water, and now confirming our love together; all in the same spot.

We plan to start exploring and cruising on our sailboat in 2026; starting with the San Juan and Gulf Islands come spring and summer.