05142024.Tuesday

Checked

Here's a thought: instead of thinking of it as The First Trip With Your Significant Other, think of it as a trip with your friend. 

Because basically, you're friends...with some really excellent benefits on the side. 😄

But I digress.

With friends, you find the things you want to do together and separately. You bounce ideas off each other, and make the room for both your interests and their interests.

So. 

Before you leave:

Take some time to sit down and intentionally talk through your travel styles, just so you’re on the same page. Is one of you a massive planner? Is one of you a bit more fly-by-the-seat-of your-pants type?

Make room on the itinerary to let each person shine for a day or two and take advantage of what they have to offer. 

During the trip:

Choose a few hours to separate and do your own thing, then come back together at a bistro or restaurant to share your experiences. You know (and they know) that spending every minute together isn’t in your best interests, so take the concept on the trip with you and enjoy the adventure. 

You’re both funloving, and when you play together to make it an even more memorable trip than it would have been solo, you will be the envy of your social circle - especially the people who think that traveling together has to mean being with each other at every possible moment. 

A few other thoughts:

It’s the two of you together, yes. But you're also potentially in a swarm of people...or alone in the desert..or someplace in between. Whichever style of trip you're choosing, there are multitudes of unknowns and reactions. Take note of the reactions that work for your style (and what doesn't) so you can be thoughtful about your future as a couple.

It's also up to the two of you to be yourselves. They like to help you find your best self, and they’ll often put themselves behind what you are wanting to do. So remember to take into account their wishes, too. Travel is a way to get to know each other, to add a layer of knowledge that’s different than the everyday routine of your regular lives. 

Maybe spice things up a little? 🤷 It might be you sit separately on the plane on the way and together on the way home, so you can replicate the thought of “meeting by chance” and then sharing the voyage and travel together.

Remember:

Traveling together is a great memory-maker, so be sure to take plenty of pictures!

Here's DAD's Soundtrack of the Day, picked especially to go with today's question. Enjoy!