If you’ve been in a relationship long enough, then you know that taking a trip together IS A VERY BIG step. As fun as it may sound, you’re going to learn first-hand that surviving a trip together can either make or break a relationship.
You ask, how come? Picture this, right now, in the moment, you and your partner are a happy couple, surrounded by familiar friends and familiar territory — think that, while replacing the happiness with uncertainty, familiar faces with sometimes-strange or sometimes-beautiful faces, and the familiar hang-outs replaced by a totally new environment. Will you be the same happy couple? Or will it tear you apart? (Hopefully it’s the former.)
Here are a couple of tips I’ve compiled (based on experience with my lovely travel-companion-of-a-wife) over the years. Hopefully they help you survive the ordeal.
Planning For Two. Forget spontaneity — you’ll come across surprises long enough after your butt cramps from sitting way too long on a trip. Take into consideration that you’re not just planning for you, but for the couple. By writing down which tourist spot you plan to visit, alternate routes (when driving) and budget allocation, you can avoid conflicts like you getting into an angry fit at the wheel, your partner deciphering a map … while you miss that right turn.
Anticipate Conflict. You want to take photographs; she wants to go shopping. While it’s cool that you both have varied interests, it’s even better if you’re in agreement. Did you both even agree to the trip? Try giving each other exploration time, maybe an hour or so — and you can both trade stories afterwards!
Prepare For Shiny Shiny Eye Candy. You WILL get distracted at the beach, or in town — your partner WILL notice. Come on! You’re both in an alien planet — think like you’ve only got each other to rely on while on a trip.
Try New Things Together. Is there a special dish that a place is known for or a landmark that you simply have to visit? These are the sort of things that your friends will find endearing, when you’re telling them the story as a couple, and you both have different points-of-view.
Drop The Wanderlust. That log museum sure sounds exciting — but wait, are you in the “tourist” line of thought? While there are interesting things the world over, it’s YOUR special trip! Forget the scenery for a while and spend some quality time as a couple — it could be as simple as cleaning up for a nice dinner, or dropping the ‘wander’ from ‘wanderlust.’
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Tags: couple, guide, survival, trip
June 27th, 2008 at 12:14 am
In your second paragraph, I think you mean former, not latter.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:09 am
@gassit: Corrected. Thanks much!