I will be the first to admit that I am an extremely lucky woman. Somehow I found a man that doesn’t mind my artsy scatterbrainedness, my inclination to make up words (see previous), and my insatiable lust for wanting to see the world.We are partners in crime.
In one of my older posts I had talked about how my family came from gypsies and this feeling of being a “free spirit” and needing to wander the world is not just a fleeting thought or a phase – it is in my blood and soul
Sorry if this gets a little mushy but Shaun and I have been together for 11 years and married for 6 of them. For all intensive purposes we have been attached at the hip since we were 16 years old. It makes sense to me that since we have gone through the growing pains of life and personal development, that he would be the one to also experience the world with me.
Recently in the blogging community I have seen a plethora of posts discussing the perks of traveling solo. While this is a valid form of travel that many people seem to advocate for, it seems as though the other side of traveling is rarely discussed. One of the things that I love about the travel blogging community is that I have been able to meet couples that travel together. I have never met any other people quite like us and it is refreshing to meet kindred spirits.
So here is my list of things I appreciate about having someone special to travel with:
1.) You have someone to watch your back:
- While we have not been backpacking yet, this still has come in handy. I’m a freak for cheap flights which has landed us in an airport after hours, spending the night in somewhat shady cities. While one slept the other watched the luggage. While I admit it wasn’t the best sleep, we made our international flight with all our items intact and for a budget price.
2.) You have someone to keep your budget in check:
- Being in London was a bad thing for our pocketbook. While we intended on spending some money on some clothes for me (I can’t find anything I like in the US), I had to stop Shaun from shoving more clothes my way. If he had his way his wife would have been dolled up in the entire store (yes, I had to stop HIM from dressing ME).
3.) You have someone to share awe inspiring moments/travel experiences with:
- While I travel to help with my own personal development, I am eternally grateful that I have someone to gush to immediately about my thoughts and perceptions. When Shaun and I went to Hiroshima, Japan, we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and there would not be a soul at home that would have understood the emotions I went through that day.
4.) You will visit locations that you otherwise may not have seen:
- Compromising while abroad can lead you on adventures you otherwise would have been without. I honestly don’t think I would have seen a Hiroshima Carps baseball came had it not been due to Shaun and our travel buddy Michael. It was one of the most memorable experiences while in Japan.
5.) You are able to grow together.
- Every time Shaun and I come home, our eyes have been opened. We take things we learned while abroad and apply them to our life here. While we have become much different from our friends at home in our understanding of the world, we have each other to lean on.
While I understand the perks of traveling solo, I couldn’t imagine Shaun missing out on the fantastic cultural opportunities, the eye opening experiences, and the world eye candy of landscapes and temples. I love sharing these adventures with him.
Sure not everyone is married or committed, however, that doesn’t mean that our travel experiences are any less meaningful.
I Love the points you have made. When we are able to travel I can’t imagine doing it without Dustin by my side. After all, what is knowledge if you have no one to share it with?
There’s nothing like travelling with your special one!
I can’t imagine myself travelling solo. If I can’t share the moment with someone, I just don’t enjoy it as much.
Backpacking around the world with my husband creates a bond between us, trust and commitment, that no “normal life” could do!
You’re gonna love it, guys! 😀
I really think that you are someone who is truly lucky. I mean, you have someone in your life that shares the same passions and that seems to be hard to find. I love Stephen, but it breaks my heart he doesn’t have any wanderlust. He seems to be content being in Austin. I mean, he does have his own thing going with his film projects and he is actually doing well with it, but I really wish sometimes that I had him here to share everything going on. I’m one of those people that likes to have someone to share an experience with. Being alone is one thing that I’m currently battling because it’s been almost 10 years that Stephen and I have been together. But, I feel I have to do what I want the most in life and he does too. It’s a rough and tough situation. So, bless you for having such a great partnership. I really do envy you.
Nice post.
Traveling as a couple is great. Shortly after we met, I was off on a long planned trip through Asia and the last thing I was looking for was anything to get in the way olf 3 years of planning and savings. Next thing I knew I had a partner in crime for most of my 4 years backpacking in Asia. When the money ran out we returned to the states, having more than survived traveling together and vowed to set up a lifestyle that would allow us to do this on a permanent basis. We’ve been on the road again for nearly 4 years with no end in site.
Eric – Trans-Americas Journey
Travel with your partner builds such a strong foundation for a healthy marriage. You tend to view your marriage more through the eyes of being a team. And a team works together for the successful achievement of the actual goal- a healthy, happy marriage. And when those challenging times do arise you always have the memories of what you have done together to fall back on. We have a collage of photos of Craig and I above our office desk. The photos show us having fun together, going on adventures, and working through the challenging times together. It is a strong focus for us and a reminder of just what we can achieve when we work together. When you share your life with someone who is just as passionate about you about your dreams, pure magic can happen.
Friends of mine who don’t travel, think its a bit weird that Craig and I do everything together. But we couldn’t see it being any other way. It’s been like that for our 8 year marriage, on the road around the world. Why would it be any different when we are stationary. It works!
@Kris: I think you and Dustin would make an adorable traveling couple. You can always take baby with you!
@Cris: When we travel together we definitely become closer. I am glad that there is another couple that experiences this. There is really something amazing about it – further exploring intimacy and trust. 🙂
@Danica: This is something I will never take for granted. I tell Shaun almost daily how grateful I am that he is so supportive about my ideas and how he wants to experience all the same things. In regards to the loneliness, I’ll keep you in my thoughts and I’ll make sure to bug you when on Facebook. I’m jealous you are in one of my most favorite places on this planet and I really do think you’re doing the right thing in Japan. You don’t want to regret it later.
@Eric: Its amazing when and how things come into your life. It is super exciting about how she was ready to leave with you! Shaun got a promotion at work recently and is working overnights and overtime to allow for me to work on our blog. We really want this to work for us and if we can get some sort of income (even if its just through my photography), we’ll consider it a success. I want to travel everywhere and honestly, we’re in a good place to do it. You inspire me!
@Caz: Shaun and I have been together for such a long time that we do weird people out with how much time we spend with each other. Not only did we work with each other side by side but we hang out and go out on “dates” all the time. It tore me up when he got promoted and I was alone in cubicle hell. While Shaun may not be into the blog as much as I would like him to be, he is more than willing to work those extra hours at our work so that I can stay home and focus on my loves. That means more to me than anything.
While I love solo travel, the best trips I have ever taken were with a partner. I felt like the bond of traveling together was just incredible!!! That is so wonderful that you’ve met a fellow gypsy. 🙂
I love this post. I feel like a lot of the other blogs I read make me feel like I have to break up with my boyfriend in order to fully “experience the world and travel.” You made some awesome points and it will be awesome to follow a blogger with a slightly different perspective on travel. Loving this blog more and more. Keep it up, girl!
Thank you for stopping by Jess! I really was a bit dismayed at the “solo travel is the only travel” mentality lately when I have a blast with Shaun. I just wanted to make sure people knew it was an option! ♥
Yay for travelling couples!! (this opinion may have changed in 6 months time)
Awww! Its not that bad! Just make sure to compromise and give each other space when necessary. 🙂
Awww… you guys are too cute! I love that he tries to dress you.
You guys are going to have a great time. I feel the same way as well. Knowing someone’s got your back is priceless! I wrote a post about this on travelwithamate.com but I don’t think it was ever published. No one ever talks about traveling with a partner – it’s really overlooked!
Nice honest (and cute) post. It’s great that you guys have each other to travel with. Whenever I am traveling solo, I always find it hard with your point 1. You can never leave your bags at your gate and go walk around or use the bathroom without lugging 50 pounds around with you. A travel buddy alleviates that a great deal. I also like traveling with someone for safety reasons. Two is always better than one. I think most solo travelers, myself included, are jealous of traveling couples. Really you are just two solo travelers that work well together traveling and bring out the best in the places and people you are experiencing.
Aww this is a nice post! I love traveling with my fiance and don’t think I’d want it any other way, for many of the reasons you’ve mentioned. I am just not as adventurous by myself, and I totally agree about wanting to share the meaningful moments with someone! It’s great to make memories with someone that would always be “you had to be there” experiences to folks back home.
@Suzy: I am sure that not all couples are capable of traveling together for long periods of time. We’re just really lucky that we can deal with each other like that. I am actually kinda curious what the success rate is for trips like these lol.
@Laura: I don’t think I could bring myself to travel solo – just because I get lonely being in my own house, much less 2000 miles away from home. I applaud the people who can do it but at the same time, I really do enjoy traveling with Shaun.
You sound very lucky indeed! I’ll admit, the idea of traveling with my significant other has been popping up more and more recently. The solo travel deal can be great, but I do prefer to travel with a buddy. And my best buddy is my boyfriend. It’s so great that you get to share this passion with yours! And the five points you made are so true.
@Amanda: I feel a little left out that I didn’t get the opportunity of solo travel/self discovery, but I definitely think that both are valid ways to travel . 🙂 I don’t think I could go on adventures without him at this point, but I do admit that I love reading blogs about solo experiences.
LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!! I always wanted to have someone like you two have in one another. I always wanted to be part of a traveling duo…….and when my husband flatly refused to take part in such a lifestyle or even support my desire to travel, it broke me. When coupled with the other problems we had, it was deathly and I am now divorced. I would never get remarried again, unless it was to someone who was determined to see the world like I do – ripe for the experiencing! For now, I try to make the best of traveling solo and realize both situations have their advantages. And disadvantages! Refreshing to read a post that focuses so positively on the advantages!
@Kirsten: Thank you! A long time ago (when we were much younger), I took what we had for granted. After that mistake and realizing the grass is always greener, our relationship bloomed into the fantastic thing that it is today. I’m glad that I could write a post that was different than what has been out there. <3
Love it!
Although I have never been part of a traveling duo, I hope that some day I get to travel with that significant other or at least a very close friend I could share all my experiences with. I think sharing your experiences on the road is something very meaningful, and it pushes you to do more and see more…
@Norbert: It is nice to have someone who understands. I try and relay things back to friends and family and somehow it gets lost.
Number 1 and 5 are the best. You are a lucky girl Erica. 🙂 I travel solo most of times, and don’t have any complain but sometimes I need someone get my back. Stand there for eachother on the border. 😉 And your article want that more! hehe
It’s so hard to meet someone understand wonder lust. My country, I’ve met no one understand that, expecially as a girl. You are so lucky! 🙂
Cheers to you two!
@Juno: I am super lucky! I always have girlfriends that seem terribly jealous about our travel relationship. Thank you for stopping by! I always love seeing ya around. 😀