My psychology teacher in high school had a philosophy about traveling and marriage that I’ve never forgotten and now believe he was dead-on about: if you and your spouse travel well together, it’s true love. Your bond is strong, deep, and stable and built to endure.
When I first heard this concept I think I was all of 16. Wayne and I were together, but traveling at that juncture consisted of day trips to the mountains, Colorado Springs, or Boulder. Which we did well together, and often, because we both liked to experience new places, sightsee, etc.
At that time I could not grasp why traveling would be such a key indicator of the strength of a relationship. What was the big deal?
I grew up in a family that often traveled. Mostly to see relatives in Phoenix, Indiana, New Jersey, and Louisiana, but we’d also taken vacations to Mexico, California, and Florida in addition to numerous camping trips. I hadn’t remembered it being stressful.
That was then. Wayne and I have since expanded our travels far beyond day trips. As a kid I didn’t know any travel stress because I didn’t have any responsibility. I was simply along for the ride, enjoying the sights along the way.
But now I’m older and more experienced. Traveling definitely comes with many stresses. Doesn’t matter if you’re traveling by car, boat, bus, plane, or train. Doesn’t matter if you’re heading into familiar territory or somewhere new and exotic. You’re susceptible to myriad influences beyond your control, such as:
• the weather
• scheduling delays or cancellations
• breakdowns
• other people
• detours due to construction or accidents.
That’s just a few of the hiccups that can create big stress when you’re traveling. Didn’t understand that back in the day. Or that traveling puts the following dynamics of a relationship to the test:
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Patience
• Planning
• Budgeting
It’s no wonder so many couples sign up for The Amazing Race not just for a shot at a million bucks, but to see if their relationship has what it takes to survive the long haul.
Questions to Readers
Do you travel well with your spouse? Have you had travel experiences that put a lot of stress on your relationship? How did you deal with it? (Or maybe the better question is how well did you deal with it?)
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