Why I actually prefer to travel with my girlfriend

Why I actually prefer to travel with my girlfriend

Okay, so I have to be very careful here. If I miss the mark, I risk offending all women and being labeled a chauvinistic pig. In addition, I will insult Kia and, believe me, Kia, when angry redefines these famous sayings about scorned women.

Let's go.

Traveling with a woman, especially your girlfriend, is different than traveling alone.

Until I met Kia, all I really knew was how to travel alone. Almost all of my longer trips had been alone. Alone, I could throw caution to the wind and change my plans in a heartbeat. While we're on the subject, I could wear the hat that Kia banned (apparently it makes me look like Michael Moore). Anyway, the point was that I was solely responsible for myself.

A few years before I met Kia, I went on a road trip through Europe with a friend. I had a great time, but spent the trip carrying a lot of the responsibility and dealing with the odd drama. On my next trip, I traveled alone. Being younger and arguably more selfish, I decided that traveling alone was more for me and so a seed was sown.

From then on I traveled with a rather cavalier (or foolhardy) attitude. With just myself and a handful of foreign exchange in my pocket, I wouldn't think twice about strolling down a dark and deserted street in Nairobi after a few too many beers. Or running up a dusty path not marked on the map with only half a canteen of water left as the sun began to set. I would like to set off to a new destination in the middle of the night without booked accommodation. In the worst case scenario, I would spend the night on the platform.

As I said, foolhardy.

Years later, when I mentioned the European road trip to Kia, I said with an eye roll, "It was okay, but a bit like a trip with a friend."

Understandably, Kia seemed pretty outraged. Oh, so a bit of crap? she said, deliciously setting a trap. Of course I resigned.

The truth is that traveling with a girlfriend is different. When I drive Kia, I feel that the responsibility for its safety rests largely on my shoulders, whether guided by a sense of old-fashioned romanticism or perhaps a touch of chauvinism. I should protect her and make sure she feels safe while we're out and about. When I make plans—whether it's choosing our next destination, how we'll get there, or where we'll sleep—I think about their safety and comfort.

There are other, smaller things I need to consider. Things I would never think of if I were traveling alone.

I'm in charge of the bug patrol (and there are a lot of bugs to patrol in the tropics!). Kia is petite, so I have to help her with her backpack - she affectionately calls me her Sherpa. Kia is a little less inclined to spend her time on multi-day hikes over mountain ranges and days of wild camping. She's happy when we have hot water, while I'm usually happy as long as there's water.

alt="Mount Yasur Volcano">Atlas & BootsSharing a hug on Mt. Yasur volcano, Vanuatu

The surprising thing for me is that traveling with Kia makes me feel safer and happier instead of restricting my freedom. Okay, so on a hike I have to turn back when the sun goes down or limit the days we spend camping, but I wouldn't change a thing. The truth is that I'm actually happiest when I travel with my girlfriend. I just wish I had had Kia by my side on all my travels so far and shared everything with her.

Apart from maybe winter mountaineering. She is unbearable when she is cold.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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