Meet the Only Team Members of Vibe-pick: Da-on and Bao, the Warmth Sustaining a Solo Builder

Precious Beings in the Isolated World of a Solo Builder

People often ask me: doesn't it get lonely doing everything—planning, development, design, and operations—all by yourself? To be honest, the life of a solo builder is a series of isolations. When you spend all day communicating with code on a screen, Search Console metrics, and AI models, there are moments when you feel your connection to the physical world fading. However, my studio is never silent. Between the clicks of my keyboard, I hear rhythmic breathing, and every time I lean back in my chair to think, I hear small paws moving at my feet.

Today, I want to introduce the true core team members of Vibe-pick and the two protagonists who completely changed my way of life: Da-on and Bao. These dogs are not just pets. They are my only teammates and colleagues who stay by my side during my most intense work hours and remind me of the warmth of reality whenever I lose my way.

The First Connection, Da-on: A Prepared Strategist and an Unexpected Encounter

Da-on (West Highland White Terrier, Female, Born Dec 12, 2018)

My meeting with Da-on was a moment where the most thorough preparation of my life crossed paths with the greatest bewilderment. As a former strategy consultant, I have a habit of analyzing and studying everything perfectly before starting. Three months before deciding to bring Da-on home, I delved deep into the 'West Highland White Terrier' breed. I studied their characteristics, genetic health issues, temperament, and training methods, consuming every video and document available to become a "prepared guardian."

However, reality was different from theory. Da-on was actually a dog whose adoption had been canceled at the last minute by someone else. When I first met her, she was already five or six months old. My family’s previous Maltese, who had been with us for 18 years, weighed less than 2kg even in her senior years. So, when I was introduced to a "puppy" who was already quite sturdy, I was taken aback. I even found myself saying, "Wait, you said she was a baby?" Though she was much larger than I expected, the moment she stared at me with those clear eyes, I knew it was destiny.

Da-on was brilliant. From day one, she was house-trained and played with me as she quickly adjusted. The problem, however, was my daily life. At the time, working as a strategy consultant with an intense workload, I couldn't leave Da-on home alone, so I sent her to a doggy daycare. It was a routine of dropping her off at 8 AM and picking her up at 8 PM. But the one who felt "separation anxiety" wasn't Da-on; it was me. Even while sitting in meetings and writing reports, my mind was entirely on Da-on at the daycare. It broke my heart to see her looking stressed when we went for walks in the evening. Ultimately, I made a decision: I began to reshape my life into an environment where remote work was possible, just to spend more time with her.

The Second Colleague, Bao: Completing the Shared Path

Bao (West Highland White Terrier, Male, Born May 11, 2019)

From the moment I brought Da-on home, I had planned for a family of two. I wanted to reduce Da-on’s time alone, and more than anything, I wanted to see these beautiful creatures relying on each other. So, when I heard that a new litter was born at the same place Da-on came from, I didn't hesitate to welcome Bao (meaning 'baby' in Chinese).

On the day I went to pick up Bao, I took Da-on with me. I wanted them to naturally recognize each other's presence from the start. However, the beginning with Bao was a bit rough. Being a very young puppy, Bao suffered from severe motion sickness in the car on the way home. Seeing him in pain, Da-on kept trying to play with him to get his attention, and I broke a sweat trying to manage the tension between the two.

Once home, I gave Bao some quiet time to stabilize in his kennel and took the excited Da-on for a long walk. When we returned, seeing the recovered Bao and Da-on touching noses and starting to play is a memory I will never forget. Bao was much more energetic and bolder than Da-on. While Da-on enjoys slow walks sniffing around, Bao is a "sprinter" who just wants to run forward. With these two dogs of different personalities entering my life, the energy in my studio finally reached a perfect balance.

Healing a Builder’s Solitude with Their "Own Language"

Our team's collaboration style is quite unique. If I get too immersed in work and miss a mealtime, the dogs come behind my chair and scratch the back of it at the exact hour. Even if I say, "Mr. Bao, Ms. Da-on, just a little longer," they are firm. In those moments, I stop what I'm doing and take care of their meals. Listening to the sound of them eating and drinking water, my tense nerves finally begin to relax.

We enjoy playing 'Hide and Seek' and 'Red Light, Green Light.' When I become the seeker and hide somewhere in the house, the two of them sniff around to find me. The moment they find my hiding spot and rush toward me with wagging tails, I feel a pure joy more valuable than any business success. I’m even surprised when we play 'Red Light, Green Light.' The moment I turn around, they stop in their tracks as if by magic and stare at me. In those clear, transparent eyes, there is no calculation or expectation—only a gaze that looks at me for who I am. That look is what makes me want to keep going.

Sometimes, when I have to travel out of town for work, I drop them off at my parents' house early in the morning and pick them up in the evening. Someone might say, "It's just for one day, you're being dramatic." But to me, these dogs are not "baggage to be left behind" but "teammates to accompany." The main reason I insist on remote work and follow the path of a solo builder is to protect this time with them. The feeling of worry that they might be anxious or that something might happen while we're apart for a long time—that is a deep sense of responsibility that goes beyond love.

Conclusion: Why I Am Alone, but Never Truly Alone

When my development work runs late into the night and I toss and turn in bed, the dogs settle down beside me. If I eventually find I can't sleep and sit back down at the computer, they follow me out without a single hint of annoyance, rubbing their sleepy eyes to sleep at my feet once again. When that warm body heat touches my feet, I realize: I am never truly alone.

Da-on (Ms. Da-on) and Bao (Mr. Bao-bao) don't fix bugs in my code or design revenue models. But when I am exhausted by the fatigue and expectations that come with human relationships, they teach me through their very existence what "unconditional comfort" feels like. My desire to create a better environment for them is the strongest motivation sustaining Vibe-pick.

Vibe-pick is a service created by the three of us: me, Da-on, and Bao. Every moment spent watching TV programs about animals together and clearing my head while walking them becomes the inspiration for my service. Even if it's a bit slow, I will grow honestly and warmly, just like their footsteps. Please look forward to the updates of our team members on the blog!