Traveling Separate vs. Traveling Alone
Krissy and I both love a good solo trip — the kind you intentionally plan for personal reflection, quiet time, and just being with yourself. But traveling separately because of work schedules? That’s a whole different story.
This year, our schedules got flipped around, and suddenly we found ourselves facing two of our favorite trips… without each other.
I had to work over the 4th of July, which meant missing our annual mountain camping trip with our friends Marilee and Nori. Last year we added Stacey and Ann to the mix, and they hit it off so well that it made this trip even more special. It’s a week filled with relaxing by the lake, hammock naps, competitive games, watching hummingbirds up close, and eating way too much (because what’s camping for, if not food?). The kind of trip that deepens friendships and sparks the conversations you never quite get to in quick visits.
Usually, I’m not a big FOMO person. Krissy, on the other hand, has a solid case of it. But being apart for trips like these brings out the FOMO in both of us. Part of it is knowing exactly what we’re missing — these are repeat trips with traditions we love — and part of it is those little moments where you turn to make a comment… and realize your person isn’t there.
All happy to be together…except Marilee in the back right—she is apparently pissed off. - Krissy (lol JK of course)
When you’re the partner on the trip, you walk a fine line: share enough so they feel included, but not so much that they feel worse. And when you’re the partner at home, you’re probably working your butt off, wishing you were anywhere else.
Then there was the Minnesota trip. Ten years ago, my parents planned a big family vacation to Forest Lake — the spot of all our childhood summers with my Uncle Bill. It’s still one of Krissy’s favorite trips ever. This year, they planned a “remake” and we weren’t sure if either of us could get the time off. I got approved. Krissy didn’t. And when her schedule changed, she couldn’t even make it for a long weekend.
It was still wonderful — boating, swimming, fierce fishing competitions, games (Cribbage and Five Crowns), way too much food, and so much reminiscing about the people we’ve loved and lost, memories and secret jokes. But without Krissy, I felt a bit like a tag-along. It’s strange how we all live in the same town, yet only have these deep catch-ups during holidays or vacations.
Thank goodness for modern technology. Daily calls, constant texts, and little gifts ( Odwalla water bottle, sun glasses I forgot, pine candies, and chai tea) help bridge the distance and remind us that even when we’re apart, we’re still showing up for each other. (Krissy sent me a care package to the AirBnB!)
So now I’m curious — what about you? Do you and your partner ever travel separately? How do you make it work?