Our journey together began in October of 2015 in Newport, Oregon. Let’s bring it back to our Newport origin stories to start....

Katrina was born in Libby, Montana, and spent her younger years in NW Montana. Her family ventured to the Oregon coast and settled down North of Newport in Beverly Beach. Katrina spent the remainder of her youth in Newport before heading out to college. Her college career started in Ohio for a year before heading back closer to home at Oregon State University. She made a couple more stops before eventually graduating from Pacific University in 2009. She lived in the outskirts of Portland before tragically losing her mom to cancer in 2010. This left a hole in her heart that only family could fill, so she moved back home to Newport to be with her dad. Her thirst for new opportunities and learning was still strong, so she enrolled in a Costa Rica Massage Therapy school and became a Licensed Massage Therapist. She was living in Newport waiting tables and bartending at Nana’s Irish Pub, and also practicing massage, when we first crossed paths.

Mike’s story began in Arcadia, California, before moving to Durango, Colorado, when he was 7. Growing up in a small Colorado mountain town was amazing, but his family almost moved to Oregon before deciding on Durango, so he always had a soft spot for the Northwest. Following his sister to the region, Mike decided to go to Oregon State University and was actually there at the same time as Katrina, but we were not aware of each other. Mike also graduated in 2009 and got an internship at a papermill near Newport. Eight years later, while out to lunch with his department from the mill, Katrina waited on him marking their first interaction. Living on the Oregon coast with his two kitties did not provide many romantic options, but the local taphouse was throwing a Halloween party and Mike was hoping that Katrina might be there.

The Halloween party turned out to be a blast with Mike dressed up as Wilfred the dog, before it got too hot and he had to rock a half costume and tank top. Katrina got off work and headed over to the bar late dressed as a pumpkin. Mike was fairly intoxicated at this point and lacked game at his finest hours, but attempted to make conversation with her none-the-less. She shut that down rather quickly. They went their separate ways, but the next day Katrina felt bad for blowing him off, so she reached out over social media. Mike barely remembered interacting with her and was rather concerned about what prompted this outreach, but she genuinely wanted to say hi and he was floored.

Talking progressed and they went on their first date at Local Ocean, which went really well and they ended up making three additional stops around town that night! Unfortunately, a few days later Katrina had a booked trip to go back to visit her massage school in Costa Rica for a couple of weeks. This was probably the best thing that could have happened as the distance did cause the heart to grow fonder. Katrina had to spend way too much of her vacation sitting outside the local grocery store to get Wi-Fi so they could chat. Once she got home, there was no looking back. We they were inseparable.

After two years together, they were forced out of Mike’s bay house so the renters could make repairs. Due to a limited rental market, they had to move quickly and bought their first house on the Northside of the Yaquina Head lighthouse. It was a great first house and the climate on the peninsula allowed them to experience what it would be like to live in a cloud. Mike got a new job working remotely for a Homeless Management Information System (software company) and Katrina started her own successful massage business. After two years, they were ready for a little bit more consistent sun and ready to get out of Newport. They still wanted to be close to water, but wanted to be closer to a bigger city, an airport, and Mike’s family in Washington. After hours of nightly Zillow scrolling, in 2019 Katrina found a beautiful house with a river view in the small town of Columbia City, 35 minutes Northwest of Portland. Moving to a region that they didn’t know anything about and where they didn’t know anyone, the year before Covid, posed its challenges. However, they have now met some great new friends and Katrina has been able to get back into her own massage business.

Despite the shit show that is our country at the moment, it is now time for us to allow the government to deem our relationship legally official. We are probably more excited about seeing and celebrating with all of our friends than the actual formalities of a wedding ceremony, but we can’t wait for you to join us as we take this next step in life! Let’s party!

M&K