Flashback to our early years of traveling. Written by Thera in 2017.
I met Tony in Nov 2009 at a friend’s ugly Christmas sweater party – another ridiculous party theme that college students used as an excuse to drink. We were young, naive and fell for each other fast…Those 2 carefree years together in college were so much fun – we got to know each other, made great friends, and drank wayyyyy too much beer & ate $5 Papa John’s pizzas almost every night out. We’d built a strong relationship that lasted through 1 year apart while Tony started his career in Chicago & I finished my senior year but I knew that the ultimate test would be our first international backpacking trip together.
We’ve learned so much about ourselves and each other on all of our trips – big & small – that we never would have just staying at home in our usual routine. Which is exactly why we’ve put together the 5 reasons why every couple should travel. If you & your significant other have traveled together or are considering traveling and you’re nervous about it, this blog is for you!
1. $hit happens
Anyone that travels, knows that no plan is perfect & even when it is, shit happens. After 30 hours of flights, long layovers, bus rides over dirt roads, and missing the last shuttle, you will be tired & grumpy. This is when you show your true colors and the perfect recipe for fights and bickering. How you handle yourself & your partner is the perfect indication of if your relationship is built to last through life’s hardships.
2. No escape
When you’re both over-tired & in a bad mood, you learn how to work through your issues & arguments quickly because there is no escape. Usually you’d each go do your own thing for a little bit & resolve the conflict later but when you’re in an unfamiliar place, you must depend on each other.
3. How to work as a team
On most trips, Tony manages the cash we carry and tracks our bank account balances. When you’re out of your routine as a couple and have to make decisions quickly & with limited information, you really start to understand your strengths and weaknesses and those of your partner. I know that I’m not the best at mental math to count out cash when we’re paying or converting currency and I learned that it’s important to Tony to be able to track our remaining balance – so that is his job on every trip we go and I usually manage navigation.
4. Meaningful memories
Ask any couple that travels – small trips or big trips – and I promise you some of their best memories are from vacations. You take away all of the stress of everyday life, and each person becomes the best version of themselves. We’ve often been asked the question, “what is your favorite memory together” which usually leads to a 10 minute conversation because we have so many! We’ve even started a tradition that on Sunday evenings where we’ll reminisce our favorite trips and memories to help with the “Sunday Scaries”.
5. Rekindle the romance
As much as I’d love to say that if you find the right person, there will always be romance – it’s not true and anyone in a longer term relationship will tell you that. But when you’re standing on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world in Thailand or overlooking the Torres in Patagonia (Chile) with the person you’ve built a life with and your best friend, how could you not feel that spark again?! Getting out of your day-to-day routine that every couple falls into is the best way to rekindle the romance.
Let us know your thoughts! Do you agree? Are there other reasons that we missed?