How did your love story begin?

Twenty-five years of friendship, two failed marriages, and somehow the answer was in front of us the whole time. In our late 40s, we finally chose each other — not as strangers, but as best friends who already knew each other's hearts. We share open, honest conversations, a love of wild places, and every national park we can find. Being a mother of a 13 yr old boy brings challenges we face together. Mostly, we laugh — real, silly, unguarded laughter neither of us have experienced in previously.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Early on, I watched Kim — in full yellow costume — get crowned Banana Slug Queen at a Prairie Creek Redwood State Park event. I was a fellow ranger, and seeing her goofy pride in that title, and her genuine love for teaching kids about nature, told me everything about her heart. We were just friends and coworkers then, but that silly, joyful moment stuck with me for years — long before we ever became a couple.

What would you do with $20,000?

We'd put it toward a teardrop trailer. We've spent years camping in tents on the ground, but as we've aged, comfort matters more — while the adventure still calls. A teardrop would let us keep chasing national parks and wild places without our bodies paying the price. It's also perfect timing: her son is craving a little independence, so he'd have his own tent right outside ours. And someday, once he's grown and gone, that little trailer keeps rolling — just the two of us, still exploring.