I would absolutely love to meet new people and learn a thing or two. 

You should check out @Kevin Myhre's meet up in Bayshore.

It meets the 50% rule.

I called the county and they want to meet up to see if anything is possible.

I'd love to pick your brain on this topic.Also, we started looking into REI in the Greater Tokyo area and are meeting with an agent next week.

Knowing that I wouldn’t meet any of the requirements for other forms of funding (no previous deals & recently self employed) I would consider myself a much higher risk investment then either of you.  

Honestly, looking back at my memories from a few days prior, I want and am cry thinking back to the first time I visited Paradise 3 days, before the fire spared/started early Thursday morning...I actually planned to visit them again and confirm a meeting with them on the day that the tragic event unfolded(not knowing what would happen a few hours later): it all made me cry and hurt inside, when I messaged them to ask what time would be best to meet.... a few minutes later replied with a startling photo of smoke in horizon/sky, then a few minutes later they described a large groups of birds flocking away, and then a shocking and scary reply... that they all must "evacuate immediately" and that the wildfire was moving very very quickly!

I also plugged up the gaps where the cabinets meet the walls and around the pipes under the sink, with copper mesh.

Would there be anything that you can think of that would keep you from being able to meet those basic requirements?" 

Additionally, I would go to local meet ups to see what people are into, try to network with local peers, and literally start talking about RE (what you're super passionate about) with everyone!