Abby and Drew met on the Research Vessel Thomas G. Thompson in February 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was Drew’s first day onboard, and Abby was the first scientist to board the vessel. Over the following month, Drew would show Abby all the critters he found while sorting through sargassum (pelagic seaweed). When Abby found a bird in distress, Drew was the first to know. They bonded over their love of marine life and the ocean. The cruise ended and Abby had to depart. Before she left she "shot her shot", what harm would be done if Drew said no. Well, Drew said yes =). They talked every day for the rest of Drew’s time on the ship, and after he returned home, Abby flew out to Seattle to see him. That was it, she was sold. After 1.5 years of long distance and adventures in Washington, Montana, the Everglades, and The Bahamas, Abby and Drew moved in together. In 2025, Abby and Drew were snowshoeing on the base of Mount Tahoma (Rainier) on a rare, beautifully sunny March 1st. After admiring skiers and snowboarders flying down the mountain, Drew asked to stop and have a snack and take some couple photos with the volcano in the background. Abby noticed that the second round of self-timer photos seemed to go on for a few seconds to long - turns out it was a video! When she turned to Drew to say something, he had the ring out. Abby was caught entirely by surprise, so it took her what felt like forever to say yes.