Gale Carrera

Gale Carrera is a resident of Lower Duck Pond.
==Biography==
“That’s not my dad. That is just my biological father. I didn't grow up with him, he didn't raise me. My real dad is Payton and Connor’s biological dad, he’s been there for me for as long as I can remember”https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/fs9i33/so_it_turns_out_i_was_not_born_on_october_7th_1998/fm3s1gn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
=== Early life ===
Gale was born on 7 June 1998, in Riga, Latvia. He was the result of a onenightstand between his mother, Greta van Roojendakkerdammer-Carrera, who was studying in Latvia at the time, and Janis Petrov. Greta always claimed his birthday was in October, rather than in June.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/fs9i33/so_it_turns_out_i_was_not_born_on_october_7th_1998/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
 In 1999, his mother married Chinabadam “Heehoo” Carrera, who Gale sees as his actual dad. Heehoo was born and raised in Lower Duck Pond. Gale has three siblings: Payton and Connor Carrera, his half-sister and -brother through his mother, and Nova Petrova, his half-sister through Petrov.
Gale lived in a small townhouse in Gouda, a city in the Netherlands, for his entire childhood, until he moved out. He grew up speaking both Dutch and English, which his dad spoke a lot while still learning Dutch. Even after his father became fluent in the language, Gale still spoke to him in English, out of habit. Growing up, his parents were always very busy with work, and would sometimes only be able to come home just in time to tuck their children in bed, so he would often spent afternoons, and sometimes evenings, with friends. He became very independent from his parents, and started teaching himself to cook very soon.
The times that his parents were home, mainly in the weekends, they spent their free time with their kids. One day, Gale’s father took him to the Porsche center in Amsterdam. After visiting there, Gale developed a fascination for sports cars, mainly Porsches. Another big factor that drew him towards the brand was his last name. He often asked his father to accompany him to visit the dealer, and eventually he had been there so many times that he started remembering the names of some of the dealers.
His father always told him stories about Lower Duck Pond before bedtime. Eventually he began to romanticize the town, fantasizing about living there and making up stories in his mind that would take place there. His mother raised him and his siblings to be environmentally conscious and not to depend on others.
==== High school years ====
Gale started high school in 2010, on the havo level. He excelled in biology and in chemistry, and hated having to learn languages.  His parents were still very busy, but less than before, so they were still able to have breakfast together. Gale started cooking for the family a lot, and would stay up late to do his homework after dinner. Eventually his mother started working less hours to help out in the household.
Gale became a decently athletic teenager. He didn’t like team sports but he did like things like climbing. As the flat landscape of his home country didn’t give a lot of opportunities to do that, he started climbing buildings. He was arrested for trespassing at the age of 15, and after doing community service for a week, he started being more careful with his hobby.
During this time, Gale struggled with his sexuality. He found himself lingering at other guys, but denied to himself that he was attracted to them. He never really spent time thinking about romance, and while most of his male friends had started a relationship with girls, he realized he didn’t want that. At a birthday party in 2013, he had a private conversation with one of his closer friends, which lead to Gale realizing he was into guys. He and his friend kept it a secret for a short while, before Gale told his friends a month later, and then his family another two months later.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/g3lmfb/to_kill_some_time_lets_share_our_most_beloved/fnsovzg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
In 2014, Gale started the specialization profile “Nature and Technology” for his fourth and exam year. He also immediately dropped every language course that wasn’t mandatory. He planned to do the “Economy and Society” profile, which was immensely popular among his classmates, but within a week after starting his fourth year with his profile, he went to administration to change his profile. 
Gale acquired his havo diploma in 2015. He earned his driver’s license the same year.
=== College years ===
Gale started studying at the University of Hydroelectric City for a bachelor degree in interior design in the fall of 2015, leaving his childhood home to live with his cousin. One reason why he chose this university was because it was close to Lower Duck Pond. During his college time, he also learned about architectural engineering.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/ftq2zy/daily_discussion_april_02_2020_tell_us_about/fm8mm4w?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
In march 2016, Gale moved in with Mia Brooks into a dorm on the university’s campus, as his cousin was moving away. At some point he also became friends with Margot O’Hara.
==== Hiking accident ====
To celebrate having made it through his first year at university, Gale went hiking through the Rosewater Ridge trail on 2 July 2016 with Mia, Margot, and others. About halfway through the hike, Gale slipped on some loose rocks, causing him to fall down the edge of the trail, landing about six meters below on his left knee. This caused major damage in his leg, and the young man only received proper medical treatment hours later. His leg had to be amputated.
After the accident, he started using a prosthesis with a socket to walk, which Gale deems to be uncomfortable, heavy and painful to use.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/g0u37r/a_confession_to_make/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
After recovering from the accident, Gale started studying again. He had a hard time navigating through the school, which Gale often compared to a giant maze.
Gale earned his bachelor degree in interior design in 2019.
=== Life in Lower Duck Pond ===
==== Moving into Lower Duck Pond ====
Gale had been wanting to move to Lower Duck Pond ever since he started studying. When Gale graduated, he was approached by one of his professors, professor G. Reen-house, who was planning to build an environmentally conscious housing project with some of his recently graduated students. Gale proposed a tiny house community in Lower Duck Pond, against another student’s proposal for the renovation and modernization of a dated street in Poleville. Gale’s proposal, dubbed the “Saffron Project”, was ultimately chosen.
Gale moved to Lower Duck Pond in June 2019. For the Saffron Project, he developed three tiny house models from the ground up, with eco-friendliness in mind. With the help of a colleague, who studied engineering, he introduced a system that would allow any type of moving tiny house to connect to the town’s water grid.
Gale finished his designs in October 2019. To build these models, he founded Carrera Tiny Homes. 
=== 2020 ===
==== Forming relationships ====
Although he had gotten to know many people in Lower Duck Pond through the Saffron Project, Gale wanted to try and make some friends on his own. He became good friends with Lennon Morillo, Marina Leonardis and Daniel Rose, and also discovered that Margot O'Hara had moved here. At some point Gale responded to an advertisement by Ezra Blackwoode and started to see him regularly for his services. Their unique relationship led to a close friendship between the two. At some point, Gale also met Tariq Sabanci at a cars and coffee event.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/f7vaza/i_have_started_a_temporary_business_investment/figgk08?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2xGale visited Seagull Beach on a trip organized by Ted Krenski, which occured on 24 February. Although he was very much enjoying the party, he had to leave early. The following morning, he was notified about the events that happened after he left, which included influencing substances, as well as a stabbing accident caused by his friend, Ezra. Gale blindly sided with his friend during the conflict, despite knowing fully that Ezra was at fault, and supported him through all of it.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/f90939/the_party_bus_is_leaving_in_10_minutes/fioxz5p?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
==== Ezra’s apparent death and return ====
“Ezra... You... You promised we’d get coffee someday.”On 9 March, Ezra had an overdose and was announced deceased, his body to be cremated. This left Gale, who still wished for a moment to be able to say goodbye to his friend, heartbroken. After the family denied Gale (as well as any residents who knew Ezra) from being present at the cremation, he became distant towards his friends and took a few days off to grieve.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/ff6t50/it_ends_tonight/fjx22ei?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
It was 5 April when Gale stepped out of his house to go to work, and found his deceased friend suddenly at his doorstep. Ezra suddenly returned at Gale’s doorstep. According to him, his family had declared him deceased, lying towards all of Ezra's friends, and sent him to a mental hospital. The pair decided to visit Rosewater for a few days to figure things out, and after returning, they started dating. The day after, Richard Remier and James Cock went to Gale's house and assaulted him by mocking his disability and confiscating his prosthesis.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/fv9tzs/so_im_not_actually_dead/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2xhttps://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/fxr1f6/im_staying_in_rosewater_for_a_few_days/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2xhttps://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/fyminq/aaaaaaaa/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
==== Moving into Saffron Avenue ====
Twenty days after Ezra's reappearance, the Saffron Project was completed and ready for residential use. The street took the project’s name, and was thus named “Saffron Avenue”. Over the course of a week, Gale unveiled three tiny house models he had developed for the street. Gale moved into a tiny house on number 7 with his boyfriend. He soon saw other people, like Maria Kellner, Noa Sealing and Poroni Nusim move in.
On 2 May, Gale was in Hydroelectric City to buy shipping containers to convert into tiny houses. After inspecting and negotiating for hours, he entered one container to catch his breath, when a worker suddenly closed the container, accidentally locking him inside the container. He was freed hours later.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/gc31x0/im_stuck_in_a_shipping_container_set_to_estonia/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
==== Meeting Nova Petrova ====
“Nova is my half sister.”At some point, Gale met Nova Petrova, the new aquarium owner. He ordered koi fish from the aquarium for Saffron Avenue. They soon became acquaintances.
On 1 June, Gale went "hiking" for the first time since his accident. His friend, Lennon, put him in a wheelbarrow and carried him to the top. They were joined by Collin Mallard and Gordy Flavin.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/gt1te8/im_gonna_go_on_a_hiking_trip_for_the_first_time/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Gale celebrated his 22nd birthday on 7 june 2020. A few friends had organized a party at the Aviary for him, but also for Lennon, who’s birthday is unknown. Many residents attended the party. After the party, Nova revealed she is Gale’s half-sister, through their father, Janis Petrov. Petrov allegedly sent his daughter to seek contact with Gale, which Gale promptly refused. Later, it was revealed that Nova’s involvement in this was involuntary, and she only helped out her father under the promise of him leaving her and her mother alone.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/hd89z8/so_its_fathers_day_just_great_now_that_i_know/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
==== Prosthetic fundraiser and getting a lifechanging treatment ====
Since his accident, Gale has used the same prosthesis for all his tasks. At this point, July 2020, it was so worn-out that it started complicating Gale’s daily life. On July 18, 2020, Gale made a post announcing his prosthesis had worn out. In the same post, he talked about possible solutions, expressing his interest in a lifechanging, but risky procedure called osseointegration. He also stated that he couldn’t afford any of the solutions, despite being well-off, as most of them were incredibly expensive.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/ht97dh/i_think_ill_need_to_replace_my_prosthetic_soon/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Soon after posting this post, many people offered to donate money, but Gale refused. Later, a man named Connor Smith started a fundraiser for the young man, and managed to raise enough money for Gale to replace his prosthesis. He initially refused again, stating that it is an absurd amount of money that he didn’t deserve, but after many people insisted on it, he accepted the money.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/htkh8h/gale_needs_to_replace_hisher_prosthetic_leg/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmfhttps://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/htxsce/to_the_people_willing_to_fund_my_new_prosthetic/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Gale decided to undergo the osseointegration procedure, which happened on 12 August. He was accompanied by his boyfriend, his two siblings and a few friends. The procedure was successful, with almost no complications. He was dismissed soon, and held a small party at which his friend Mason encountered his fling.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/i5l1t6/im_gonna_have_the_osseointegration_procedure_on/https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/iaf0ao/i_finally_met_someone_at_gales_party/https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/iaf0ao/i_finally_met_someone_at_gales_party/
On september 6th, Gale tried to make a Latvian bread soup to try to connect with his heritage. He didn't succeed.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/in2szf/i_made_latvian_bread_soup_in_order_to_connect/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
The rest of the year was uneventful for Gale, until the holidays, when his parents visited for the holidays.
=== 2021 ===
As the new year arrived, Gale became more self-conscious about his leg. He started despising the way it looks, and started noticing people staring. He even stopped wearing anything that would show his left leg, like jeans with holes in that side or shorts. This self-consciousness, along with many issues, put a lot of strain on his relationship with Ezra.
== Personality ==
Gale is an optimistic, impulsive and sociable young man, who is known to be laid-back and friendly. He gets excited about his interests easily, and loves talking about them, as is evidenced through his enthusiasm for cars, cooking and design. He usually acts before he thinks, which sometimes doesn’t end well. He is also a people pleaser, who tries to help others as much as possible, but he sometimes sacrifices his own well-being while doing this.
Gale can be a bit self-conscious. While he knows his worth, he tends to overthink what people say to and about him. He can also be self-conscious about his appearance at times, especially about his leg, and the way it was amputated. He feels like it's ugly and while he talks about his experiences as an amputee often, he rarely shows his leg.
When under stress, Gale becomes unable to concentrate or think clear. He tends to try to hide this to not upset anyone, but he puts himself under even more pressure while doing this.
== Health ==
*After his accident in 2016, Gale went through an amputation of his left leg. 
**From 2016 until 2020, Gale used a socket prosthesis, allowing him to walk for short distances. Walking would hurt after a while, and carrying heavy items was hard. 
**In 2020, Gale underwent an osseointegration. For this procedure, a metal implant was inserted in his thigh bone. This implant connects his prosthesis with his body making him far more mobile than with a socket prosthesis.
** As the amputation removed mass from his body, his body mass has to be calculated to compensate for the removed weight, which is about 4,62% of his body mass. His true weight is approximately 67kg.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/hbinnr/daily_discussion_june_18_2020_tell_us_about/fv9tomn/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
* Gale has a relatively healthy lifestyle. He is naturally quite strong and mostly eats homemade food, although this is more of a taste preference rather than a health preference.
* Gale exercises once or twice a week, depending on how much time he has.
** After his osseointegration, he started doing exercises for his leg twice a day, each session taking about half an hour.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/ifc7dd/my_osseointegration_was_successful_also_i_hate/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
* Gale has PTSD from his accident.
== Appearance ==
* Gale has light skin and dark green eyes. He has light brown, wavy hair, which, due to its length at the top, often has a messy appearance. He has a square face with light facial hair and thick eyebrows.
* He has no tattoos or piercings.
* In terms of clothing style, Gale’s style could be described as biker inspired; For most occasions, he wears jeans with holes, a T-shirt or sweater and a leather jacket. He wears a chain necklace around his neck, two leather wristbands on his left wrist and a watch on his right.
* Gale's signature clothing piece is a leather jacket; he is known for always wearing them, and owns four:https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/fldjjh/daily_discussion_march_19_2020_tell_us_about/fkynd1w?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
** A minimalistic black racer jacket with silver hardware, made of Alcantara;
** A padded cognac biker jacket with black hardware, which is tanned with olive leaves;
** A dark red biker jacket with black hardware;
** A dark green biker jacket with silver hardware.
== Hobbies ==
“Cars are the things we make memories with, they each have their own “personality”, they’re emotional objects.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/hcc964/rip_my_old_four_wheeled_friend/fveblk3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf”Gale has always had a passion for cars. This something he shares with his father, who would take him to Porsche dealers to look at the cars. Memories of these visits, as well as his last name, contributed to Gale being particularly passionate about the Porsche brand. One of his childhood dreams was to one day own a Porsch 911 Targa, and in 2020, he achieved this dream. He owns a 2021 Porsche 911 Targa 4 and uses it for his daily commute, as well as for driving pleasure, often driving on the Parkway. He also enjoys cooking and baking food, which he eagerly shares with people, and has a basic knowledge on leathercraft.
== Trivia ==
* Gale is attracted to men.
* Gale has both Germanic and Baltic roots.
* Gale is left handed.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/faf6qo/daily_discussion_february_27_2020_tell_us_about/fiyicqz?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
* Gale has a degree in interior design and has experience in architectural engineering, woodworking and leather crafting.
* He loves the elctroband WŒLF.https://www.reddit.com/r/HaveWeMet/comments/h0ztrc/indie_summer_extravaganza/ftp3wu0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf 
== References ==
Category:Citizens
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