Having both returned home during the pandemic, with Conrad's time at at UC Santa Cruz coming to a close online and Alida attempting to learn through Zoom, we spotted each other at a Friendsgiving party. Alida and Conrad talked endlessly and sometime later Conrad reached out to go on a date. Our first date at the Arcata Marsh lasted for hours and we knew we had met our fast walking match instantly.

Conrad and Alida were set to go on a weekend camping trip to Mendocino, a town Alida loves to walk around and where Conrad braves the cold waves to surf. The plan was to camp, which Alida was quickly regretting all week along in anticipation of the cold temperatures. Conrad offered to pack the car up with all of their camping supplies, and as soon as they arrived in town asked to take a walk on the bluffs. As they walked along the trail Alida kept stopping as Conrad said, "Actually, let's keep going" to avoid the crowds of people everywhere. They came across some rocks overlooking the gorgeous ocean view and Conrad asked Alida to marry him. Immediately after he revealed that they thankfully weren't camping and that he had booked them a beautiful hotel room with heat.