The Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple have talked about moving to New York City, but there are signs the couple is more likely to move to Wichita, Kansas instead. 62-year-old Joan met 60-year-old Chock on the first night of her season of The Bachelor spin-off. The widowed mother of four was no stranger to looking for love on network television. She made her television debut during Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor. When a family emergency led to Joan leaving the show early, she was then cast as The Golden Bachelorette.
Joan dated 24 single older men during The Golden Bachelorette season 1, including Chock. After a dramatic season filled with ups and downs, Joan gave Chock her final rose. The couple got engaged and headed off to live happily ever after. There was only one problem – Joan and Chock lived a substantial distance away from each other. They’ve been flying back and forth to be together, but they’ll eventually need to settle down somewhere. Though they’ve talked about buying a place in New York City, there’s always a chance they’ll choose to live in Wichita, Kansas, instead.
8. Chock Loves Wichita Too Much To Leave
He’s All About The Sunflower State
A brief scroll down Chock’s Instagram page makes one thing clear: Chock loves Wichita, Kansas. He’s a proud Kansas citizen, and he posts about his hometown a lot. In February, Chock and Joan appeared on the cover of Splurge! Magazine, which posted the photos on Instagram. The post’s caption reads, in part, “This Wichita golden couple has captured our hearts.” Splurge! Magazine is a Wichita, Kansas publication, so it’s great that they have already embraced Joan. Chock has a deep connection to the community. He’s built a great life in Wichita, and Joan appears happy in Kansas.
7. Joan Seems To Like Kansas Too
She Could Be Happy There
Joan and Chock have been going back and forth between Kansas and Maryland to be together while spending time in New York and Los Angeles. They even split the holidays between their two home bases. They spent Thanksgiving at Joan’s house in Kansas, then celebrated Christmas at Chock’s house in Kansas. Recently, Chock posted Instagram photos of him and Joan hanging out in Kansas. Though they’ve said they intend to find a place in New York, Joan looks like she had a great time in the Sunflower State. Joan could potentially consider relocating to Kansas to be with Chock.
6. Joan & Chock Were Discouraged By The NYC Apartment Hunt
A Tight Real Estate Market
In November 2024, Joan and Chock posted an NYC apartment update. They described an exhaustive search. They looked at apartments on the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, and several other parts of the city, settling on finding a place in Soho. Though their real estate agent showed them several places, they hadn’t found the right one yet. Maybe The Golden Bachelorette season 1 couple got discouraged by the search.
5. Chock Has A Wide Network Of Friends In Wichita
They Don’t Know As Many People In NYC
Since getting engaged during The Golden Bachelorette season 1 finale, Joan and Chock have been in Kansas a lot. In one of his most recent posts, Chock took Joan to meet his Wichita friends, and it was hard not to notice it looked like a great party. It took place at a local bar with a hundred of Chock’s closest friends in attendance. “Introducing @joan_vassos to all of my Wichita friends,” reads Chock’s caption. “What a night!” Though Joan and Chock may have some friends in NYC, it’s not the same as Chock’s social network in Kansas.
Finding an apartment in Manhattan can be a full-time job, even with the help of a good real estate agent. Joan and Chock not living there also complicates the matter. Not to mention, apartments in NYC are expensive and tiny, so it would be a change for Joan and Chock. They’re both long-time homeowners who are accustomed to much bigger homes, so they’re probably struggling to find a place they can be happy in.
4. Chock’s Business Is In Wichita
Joan’s Career May Be In Transition
Before joining the cast of The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Chock was a successful insurance executive. Since Chock owns his own business in Kansas, it would be difficult to move out of the state. Joan’s job as a private school administrator would be easier to transfer to a new state. Besides, Joan’s career as a public figure has been taking off since The Golden Bachelorette, and she could transition out of education entirely. She’s been steadily increasing her social media presence. She has 188K followers on Instagram and Chock has 80K followers.
3. Joan & Chock May Like Going Back And Forth
They Get To Travel More
Since leaving The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Joan and Chock have seemed to enjoy traveling back and forth to see each other. Though they’re technically in a long-distance relationship, they spend most of their time together. A long-distance relationship may not be for everyone, but Joan and Chock appear to be having fun with it. They both get to spend time showing each other around their respective states while spending time with each other’s family and friends. On top of that, they get to travel more often.
It hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows for the new couple.
They’ve posted photos of their various Golden Bachelorette Disneyland adventures. If Joan and Chock got a place in New York, they’d have to vacation there all the time instead of mixing it up. It’s possible the couple realized they were having fun enjoying their jet-setting lifestyle. Once they get tired of going back and forth, they are still more likely to move to Kansas than New York City.
2. Joan Just Wants To Make Chock Happy
Things Haven’t Been Perfect
Joan and Chock are a great couple, and the process of being on The Golden Bachelorette season 1 has worked for them. It hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows for the couple. After getting engaged, Joan and Chock wanted to work on blending their families, but that didn’t work as well as they expected. In December, Joan posted a clip on Instagram of her and Chock discussing their relationship. During the clip, they talk about blending their families, which Joan confesses has been a “little harder right now.”
Nothing would make Chock happier than living in Wichita, Kansas with Joan.
Joan and Chock didn’t get into details, but they were discouraged by the matter. Things aren’t perfect, but Joan and Chock are working through their issues. Lately, they seem to be less focused on blending their families, and more focused on making each other happy. Nothing would make Chock happier than living in Wichita, Kansas with Joan. It remains to be seen if Joan comes to agree.
1. The City Life Might Not Be For Chock & Joan
They May Prefer A Quieter Life
Though Joan and Chock share a love for New York City, they love the great outdoors. A few weeks after Joan and Chock went to Cancun, The Golden Bachelorette season 1 couple was traveling to Sonoma for some wine tasting. Chock posted Instagram photos of him and Joan posing in front of a 300-foot redwood tree. “Sipping wine in California with my favorite gal by my side,” reads Chock’s caption. Joan and Chock like New York City but may prefer a quieter life outside a major city.
