It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and life was anything but ordinary. My fiancé, hailing all the way from South Texas, had made his way to New Hampshire as a traveler. Everyone always thinks that we met because we both worked at the same hospital, but instead, fate brought us together at the gym. Like many others, we were eager to return to our favorite gym routines when it reopened, even if it meant working out in masks and following strict COVID protocols. We both seemed to have the same post-work schedule, always showing up at the same time. After weeks of seeing each other from across the gym socially distanced, he finally introduced himself. From there, our connection grew. We went from gym acquaintances to hanging out outside of workouts, and soon, we were officially dating. He eventually traded in his traveler status for a full-time life in New Hampshire, and together, we’ve been exploring everything this beautiful region has to offer. We’ve made the most of New England—hiking scenic trails, skiing down snowy slopes (he’s picking up skiing like a pro), camping under the stars, sampling craft beers at breweries, and cheering on our favorite teams at sports games. We also love catching live music and traveling whenever we can, especially back to Texas to visit his family and soak up the warmth. Of course, it’s been a learning curve for both of us. He’s mastering snow shoveling and navigating icy roads, while I’m still working on tolerating spicy food and trying to learn Spanish... Through it all, our story is a testament to finding love in unexpected places, even during a pandemic. We can’t wait to start this next chapter together and are so excited to celebrate with all of you!