Casey and Nick

Hello! My name is Casey and I grew up in small town America: more specifically Eastern Washington. For the first 18 years of my life, I lived in two different towns exactly 4 miles apart. These weren’t tiny, picturesque towns though. They were sprawling and soulless, with good economies, but full of Red Robin’s and Walmart’s and Best Buy's. They had no culture, although this is slowly (very slowly…..) changing. Last year we actually found a good beer bar there. In my formative years, I was acutely afraid of trying new things (well, except for new food…) because of a fear of being judged if I wasn’t good at them. I read a lot. And wrote stories, none of which are finished. When I moved to Seattle for college, my eyes were opened to a whole new way of existence and my itch for new experiences began. My hunger for new experiences manifests itself as an restlessness--a subtle hum, like walking under powerlines, that I really only notice when it gets quiet. Travelling to new places, trying new food and drink, and any novel experience quells my restlessness for a while. Then, a few days or weeks later, the buzz comes back. Nick has lived in six states from Texas to Alaska. Growing up, his family moved to a new Army base on average once every two years. To him, novel experience is a part of daily life, whether it is moving across the country or trying the newest beer from his favorite brewery. Finally his father settled the family down in rural Eastern Washington, not 30 miles from where I grew up. We met after college though, bonding over a shared hatred of the management at the gym we worked at. Out on the road, I am perfectly content being an observer, mentally documenting what is happening around me. Nick is happiest asking a local where to get a cup of coffee/which bar has the best beer/what their favorite local cuisine is/etc. He handles the map and me when I get hungry. I try to freeze moments in time and he keeps me present. We live near Seattle, Washington with our cat who has as many names as we do in this area words for rain, and answers to none of them. I am a winemaker and Nick is a Physical Therapist Assistant looking to find a DPT program that will take him to the next level. I still write stories, and never try to finish them and Nick has too many hobbies.