The summer and fall of 2021 were replete with changes for me. A new home; a newly rescued dog; a newly vaccinated world. It was an uncertain time, and nerve-wracking to meet new people during COVID. She and I messaged quite a bit - sharing our thoughts, experiences and plans, and before long I felt comfortable enough to brave the pandemic and meet her. We spoke at length, and she never failed to have something interesting and exciting to talk about.

During those early months, it was a busy time for both us with our own individual plans. In between dates, we would spend time with our own friends and family, but all the while we messaged and talked, and shared our experiences with each other. I dared to show her a picture of the Star Trek artwork in my office, and in return she shared that there was Star Wars art in hers.

In 2022, she shared with me some of her favorite things -- trips to the ocean, her favorite restaurants, movies and musicals she likes, and some board games that she enjoys. But I truly appreciated that she also shared my excitement in trying new things: a trip to Eureka, a new place to eat, reading a new book. These were changes that I could look forward to.

So in the middle of change and uncertainty, she brought constancy into my life. She moved in with me and helped make the new house into a home. We took trips together, and met each others' family and friends. When she said "yes" to me on the sunny beach in Santa Barbara, it was less surprising, and more a natural evolution of our relationship. The cliche is "the rest is history" -- I say instead that the "rest" will be an exciting future together.

It was late 2021, so COVID was still a major thing. I decided, what the heck, let’s see who’s out there in the online world, since meeting in person wasn’t really an option at the time. His initial message was thoughtful and well written, which immediately got my attention. We agreed to meet up for coffee after we agreed about masks and vaccines. Such intimate info for a first date! But it really made me feel at ease when we were on the same page about such important stuff. We were there for a few hours, never running out of things to talk about; long enough to get a second round of coffee. We immediately made plans to meet again soon. Our second date was dinner, and third date was a hike in an area he liked to go near his house. I still didn’t know him very well, and the hike was nice, but he kept trying to take me to all of these secluded/isolated areas. He would suggest heading towards some remote forested area, and I’d say, how about we stay on the main path? It’s funny to talk about it now and tell him my perspective when I know he had totally innocent intentions!

Fast forward to April 2022, and it’s our first time going out of town together. Of course we go to Monterey. It’s like introducing him to a family member. It was a great weekend filled with all of my favorite things, and someone who was quickly becoming my favorite person. I knew we were headed somewhere special when he started reading poetry to me during the weekend, without being showy or snobby about it. It was extremely swoon-worthy.

We had previously discussed other places we haven’t been or wanted to go, and I had mentioned in passing that I wanted to go to northern California to see where they filmed my favorite Star Wars movie (Return of the Jedi, come at me). As soon as we got back from Monterey, he suggested we take another trip to see the Ewoks. He listens AND remembers things that are important to me!

We continue to take trips to the coast, baseball games, concerts, and comedy shows. Soon we’re pretty much spending every day together, so we move in together in September 2022.

July 2023, we take one of our usual trips to the coast, Santa Barbara this time. We had been there a couple times by now to visit his family, but I hadn’t taken him to some of the places in Santa Barbara that I have been to, and loved, but he hadn’t. We decide to check out this fancy hotel on the ocean (Rosewood Miramar Beach, google it.) We had discussed getting engaged at some point, and I figured he knew I would want to be asked on the beach, but I didn’t want to make any assumptions. I did have an idea something might be up because he shaved that morning, and he NEVER shaves on vacation. He suggested a walk on the beach and wanted to take me to a secluded area (which I was ok with this time!). He got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of our lives together doing all of the things we have already been doing, and I of course said yes!