I met Julie at a Google Meet group event in Gainesville in summer 2021. I was immediately drawn to her glasses and to her sense of humor. We went to a few more events but then lost track of each other over the holidays. I took a risk and reached out to her in February 2022, and she suggested that we go get a beer at Halpatter. We were very comfortable with each other and we declared ourselves "a thing" after a short time. Also we hadn't been going out very long before she brought me over to meet her parents. They are wonderful and they have taken me in as one in a very close knit family. I have enjoyed wonderful meals with them. Meanwhile Julie and I like doing day trips and exciting things but we also enjoy home cooked meals and Netflix. I look forward to a wonderful life with Julie!

I wanted to make friends locally outside of work, so years ago a girlfriend and I signed up for a singles group designed to NOT be a dating group but to instead get together for dinner, board games, hikes, drinks, etc.. to make friends. At the time it was sponsored through a church, even better. Then my girlfriend moved away and the church dropped the sponsorship and COVID happened... When things got going again, I decided to give it another try and went to one of the now rebranded events - still for single professionals just looking to connect with other humans. I intentionally sought out a group in Gainesville to widen my social network outside of where I live and work, so off I went to socialize with a group of people I've never met before, and they were all wonderful. One in particular. We went to a few events where we'd see each other, play on teams together or share a table or whatnot, but then I had to take some time off for a health thing and pretty soon I get an email with "hi". The rest, as they say, is history.