I wasn’t really planning on writing an essay today, I had other things to share with you, but Robert Schrader’s post on Leave Your Daily Hell got me going and I just found myself thinking about relationships and travel lovers. Simply put, if you have the travel bug, it will affect your relationships. In a good way or in a bad way, but it won’t be something minor. And here comes the tricky part, it’s not just your love relationships, friends and family might also be affected.
I once was in a relationship with a boy who had never been abroad and wasn’t really keen on traveling before he met me. In our two years of relationship we went on a trip to Athens, a New Year’s Eve getaway to Istanbul, a nice little beach holiday in Oludeniz, a trip to Holland and another one to Germany. Did he have fun? Of course he did. Did he enjoy it as much as I did? Of course not, it wasn’t his thing. Did his family complain about him not spending enough time with them during his vacation? They did and it created some tensions. Did he think part of those trips were a waste of money? Probably.ÂÂ
I’ve also been on quite a few trips with friends. Needless to say not all of them get the “explore new countries” idea and the best trips are with those who do. Some would sigh and daydream with me about my next adventure, others would consider me just plain crazy for getting in my car and leaving for a month to wander around Europe.
My family? I am lucky in that department, they are happy for me whenever I’m getting ready for a new trip and they still don’t get why I haven’t moved abroad yet. I do fall in love with every country I visit and randomly decide to move there for a while, so they have their reasons! But I’ve seen others whose families would just frown and object to traveling. Why pay so much on two weeks somewhere when you could buy stuff you really need? It’s really stuff you don’t need and could easily live without, but that’s not the issue.
However you look at it, your love of travel is a part of you. And like it or not, it’s also part of how you see the world and your life and relationships with people. Wanting to travel might be as big of an issue in a relationship as wanting kinds or wanting to live in a big city or in the countryside. The nasty part is there rarely is rhyme or reason to falling in love. Loving someone has nothing to do with compatible lifestyles. It might end up in tears, it would still be a great love story in the end.
But, and there is a but, it’s important to be honest about who you are. While traveling for love (and again Robert has written an amazing piece on such an experience) is something you should totally do, thinking you should give up your wandering ways for love is not. Your heart might be filled with the wonders of the world at some point and you’d like to settle down and stay in one place for longer periods, but forcing yourself to just give up on what you are passionate about and makes you happy is not something I’d advise. Nor picking such a way of life up! Sounds tragic? It’s not! If your relationship is all that, you’ll find a way regardless of having different views and hobbies. If you break up, it’s like Robert has said, the difference of opinions is a symptom, not a cause.
Would it be easier if your love interest shared your love of travel? Definitely, but easy is not something that happens a lot in life, is it?
By Amey MyersAmey, an intrepid traveler and avid blogger, roams the world, absorbing diverse cultures, flavors, and experiences. Her writing captures the essence of her adventures, inspiring others to explore. Amey's infectious passion for travel and storytelling epitomizes a life filled with exploration and adventure.
