They swiped right. He liked her playful profile. She liked his witty conversation starter. They chatted for a month, excitedly sneaking moments to type between daily to-dos and BIG to-dos like biking the Natchez Trace Parkway and enjoying a music festival in California. Just before they met, he sent her on a scavenger hunt to find a treasure hidden in her neighborhood little free library. Then, he shortened an out-of-state trip to meet her for the first time. They had drinks at the IT building in downtown Anchorage and have celebrated every moment together since.

She knew he was thinking about it. He wanted it to be a surprise. How does one hide such a big thing from a professional mind reader? She IS a psychotherapist after all. He makes things complicated. He burrito wraps his proposal inside another big thing: their first overnight sail from the California coast to the idyllic seaside town of Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. Navigating weather and seas and giant ships on their own provided the perfect opportunity to stash the flowers and ten-foot proposal banner he needed aboard their cramped sailboat.  Then came an incredible 8-mile trail into the desert backdrop of Avalon. There was sweat. There were prickly pear thorns. And there was a sly sister hidden along the way to help conceal the moment. Until. Overlooking the Pacific and set within a grove of  Eucalyptus trees, rose petals were sprinkled, ten feet of banner unfurled, and he asked her to join him forever.