Nick Bray has never been the type to stay in one place for long. An Iraq War veteran, former truck driver, skydiving instructor, pilot, boxer, and world traveler, he has spent much of his life chasing new experiences and seeing where they lead.

“I found comfort in being out of my comfort zone,” Bray said.

That journey has taken him across the country and around the world, but it has also come with challenges. A bone infection he developed during his deployment to Iraq led to multiple surgeries and lasting damage to his leg. Even after years of recovery and chronic pain, Bray never stopped pushing forward.

Now, he is starting over again.

As he packs up the few belongings he has on Treasure Island and moves to Brisbane, Bray is preparing for a new chapter as a high school chemistry teacher. Alongside him is Buddy, the dog who wandered onto his porch in Alabama and never left. What started as a chance encounter has grown into a partnership that influences nearly every decision Bray makes.

“I did it for Buddy. I fell in love with him. I walk him for about six hours a day. If I have to go to Burton in the morning and SFSU in the afternoon, I would not get back to Treasure Island for about nine hours. He would have to become one of those dogs that is home Monday through Friday, all day,” Bray said.

Caption:

Nick Bray, 40, takes his Labrador/Pitt mix, Buddy, on their last walk on Treasure Island before moving to their new apartment in Brisbane on Monday, June 1, 2026, in San Francisco, California.