It's not how you meet, but who you meet that matters...
I consider meeting the man behind Finwoodphoto one of the luckiest occurrences of my life. We were both new to Texas and both perfectly happy drifting around solo. Relationships seemed more of a hassle to me and I really wasn't meeting anyone who could hold my interest in Houston. After being single for years, life was about to throw me an unexpected curve ball in the form of a tall dark handsome man that would change my life for good.
Our first date was at Ruggles Green. Jacob was a perfect gentleman; he found out I was vegan and searched for a place I would have options. Jacob was waiting for me inside and when I opened the door and laid eyes on him, something happened that was completely unexpected. I’m guessing it was what they call “love at first sight,” or at least the closest thing to it. There were the butterflies, the sudden rush of warmth and blushing, and a cheesy smile impossible to fight. First dates have the potential of being a complete disaster. You see them and then begin to reflect back on the pictures you saw before meeting them (by Facebook or Instagram stalking) and think "those photos must have been either years old, or taken on the best day of their lives." Even if you like what you see, conversation can be awkward, miserable, and even confrontational! However, when I met Jacob I was thinking, “wow, your pictures do not even come close to doing you justice.” His dark hair, dark eyes, beard, flannel shirt, and adorable warming smile sent adrenaline piercing through my body. You see him in my photos... you can see he's easy on the eyes.
It was the best first date of my life. We talked the entire time, not even breaking to eat our meals growing cold in front of us. Jacob talked mostly, but I am more of a listener anyway. I could have listened to him talk forever. This man, he had been places, done things; he had real, interesting and profound thoughts and experiences to share. He too struck with resfeber (a fun word for travel fever) had been all over the world. A Force Recon Marine on a special operations team, a surfer in Costa Rica, a hiker in New Zealand, he had done more in 31 years than many do in their entire lifetime. I was intrigued, honored to be on a date with him, and absolutely smitten. He eventually said he would let me go due to working early the next day, although I did not want to leave that table... ever. We hugged goodbye and I was in my car immediately texting my sister that I had met the man of my dreams.
After that point, things moved pretty quickly...actually, exceedingly rapid may be a better description. Our second date was a day before I went on a trip to Costa Rica. Our third date was the day after I got back from Costa Rica and the day I left for home, Pennsylvania. The fourth date was the day I got back from Pennsylvania and the day we become inseparable...literally. We spent everyday together for two weeks until we went on a our first road trip together (which is another post entirely by itself).
Drifting Ever After
The more time we spend together the more we realize we share one very significant and forceful passion: to travel; to live for the moment and see and do the most we can do; and particularly down roads less traveled. At the core of each of our hearts and souls is a fiery wanderlust . It’s a trait that originally attracted me to him, that rooted our falling in love with each other, and that I believe, will ultimately be the reasons we continue to grow together, fall deeper in love, and be our secret to a happy life. After only two months, I was in love, I knew I had met the person I was going to share my life and travel the world with. In less than four months we have traveled to 9 states together. At this rate, in only two years we could see all 50 states, plus D.C. and the four U.S. territories. The drifting has only just begun...