The story of Myke and Abby is one of serendipity. Existing as two people, unknown to one another, but leading parallel lives just four hours apart--Myke at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and Abby at the University of Wisconsin-Madison--their universes converged in the summer of 2015 in Chicago, IL while working planning internships together. Both at points in their life where they were intent on fully realizing their independence and each quite enthusiastic about the course they were on, their collision bounced them onto an unforeseen, yet pleasantly surprising trajectory. Returning to their respective cities post-internship to finish their last year of school, Abby and Myke spoke somewhat often on the phone and made the 4-hour drives along the wind turbine fields and cow pastures dotting I-90 to visit one another on the weekends, while actively trying to stifle their feelings for one another, not wishing to hamper one another’s future opportunities. But together on a winter break trip to Ann Arbor and Detroit, MI to visit Abby’s cousin (and bridesmaid) Sally, and another sad goodbye looming at the trip’s end, Abby and Myke realized they had something special, something worth driving through blizzards and thinking about futures slightly differently. After responsibly and successfully putting their relationship to the test on a 5-day spring break backpacking trip in the Ozarks (highly recommend), in May 2016 Abby and Myke felt inspired and confident as they loaded up a 5X8 Uhaul to head west for sunny Sacramento, CA and its abundance of public-sector job opportunities. Despite the risky drive where Myke said “eh, let’s push it to the next gas station; it says we have 17 miles left” whilst in the middle of nowhere and the part where he masterfully drove us (and the 5x8 in tow) up the cliff sides of the Beartooth Highway into Yellowstone National Park, we successfully made it to our destination. While moving to the other side of the country was at times isolating, having a best friend and partner to explore the new culture and go camping and hiking with was amazing. Abby and Myke spent three and a half years having the time of their life taking weekend trips all over the western US. Nothing makes them happier than when Myke cooks up a good camping trip and Abby downloads the podcasts for the drive there. After adding Rico their bordoodle puppy to the family, in December 2019 they once again loaded up their car for another one of their famous, good-time cross county road trips; only this trip would be extra special. Just starting out on the road, not even two hours in, Myke spontaneously turned to Abby, “I want to go check out this Pacific Crest Trailhead, do you mind?” Abby thought to herself, “Wow, at this rate we will never get to Chicago,” but she was also pleased that Myke was starting off the trip with a casual, vacation-minded attitude. She obliged. And at the Donner Lake vista point (and apparently PCT trailhead?), among a beautiful view of the lake and the Sierra mountains surrounding it (infamous Donner party tragedy not top of mind…), Myke asked Abby to marry him. She said “Yes!”