You know what people say: “The third time is the charm.” After this weekend, that adage could not be more true.

When Andrew and I first visited Manhattan Beach, everything was new. The second time around, we made it a point to visit our favorite spots while still taking time to relax. Now, on this third trip, it’s become our sanctuary; a place we go to escape the worries and troubles that come with adulthood.

Out here, with sweeping views of the California coastline, you begin to realize none of those matter anymore. Your stresses simply wash away with the tide and the only thing that does truly matter is the person standing next to you. Life with Andrew has been one beautiful adventure after the next and as he got down on one knee, just as the sun started bursting out from behind the ocean, it finally hit me. Manhattan Beach isn’t my sanctuary. It’s the man in front of me. I get to spend forever with my best friend; the one I laugh with, live for, dream with, love.

Right there, in that exact moment, my heart could not have felt any more whole.