I am the luckiest man alive that we found each other.

From one of our earliest adventures — hiking 50 miles through the Santa Cruz Mountains on the Skyline to the Sea Trail — to traveling the world, a dream we both shared, we did everything as a team. For 48 years we shared, challenged, and loved each other. It has been one hell of a ride.

Akaisha always believed in me, which made me a better man. Together we bought a restaurant when we had just $104 between us, and together we turned my crazy idea of retiring young at 38 to travel the world into reality. The two of us were an army of three.

We wrote and published a book when we had no experience, no connections, and no audience. Together, we made it happen. We were proud of both our accomplishments and our failures. We learned from both.

While Akaisha has begun her last great adventure, I will carry on with cherished memories and the comfort of knowing she is in a better place.

I’ve been grieving for months. Honestly, it’s a huge relief knowing Akaisha no longer suffers. I can finally rest, knowing I gave everything I had to keep her comfortable, well-nourished, and treated with dignity until the end. Those were her wishes — and mine as well. It was a pleasure and an honor to be her caregiver.

Even so, there is a huge hole in my heart that will never be filled.

Thank you, Akaisha, for giving me a wonderful life. You were my angel.

She insisted that I continue traveling and find a like-minded companion to share the experiences with. None of us knows the future, and she hoped her rapid decline might serve as a teachable moment for others.

I’ll do all I can. The journey continues.

We want to thank all of you for your tremendous support and for the many friendships we have gathered along the way.

Billy and Akaisha