For the Love of the Road Trip

Now the parking lot is empty, everyone’s gone some place
I pick you up and in the trunk I’ve packed a cooler and a two-day suitcase
There’s a place we like to drive way out in the country, and five miles out of the city limits we’re singing and your hand is on my knee.

~The Power of Two, by the Indigo Girls (played and sung at our wedding)

When was the last time you and your partner climbed in the car and headed out for the day (or better yet for a few days)? I am not talking about running around town doing chores and catching up on errands on a Saturday morning. I am talking about packing up some snacks, grabbing the camera, getting out a map and pointing your finger to a random spot.

As far as I am concerned, there are few things I would rather do on the weekend than hit the road with my husband, Dan. We live in an incredibly beautiful part of the world and we don’t have to go far from our home to quickly be surrounded by amazing scenery, or to find ourselves in quaint villages. It always amazes me how easy it is to discover new and wonderful places together.

We love to start out early, go to the drive-through (Dan has a weakness for sausage Mc Muffins and coffee) check the gas and then get moving. We might have a destination all planned out, or we may just see where the road takes us. Sometimes we plan to have a walk or a hike on the way, and other times we are just happy to be driving and talking and thinking about where we might stop of lunch.

We use the time in the car to reconnect with each other. We catch up on what’s been going on in the other’s life, we talk over any issues we might be having, we talk about our goals and our plans, sometimes we sing, and, very importantly, we continue our ongoing game of “punch buggy” (It gets rather competitive in these parts as there are many old Volkswagens around here. Dan hates to admit it, but I am a far superior player!).

We don’t get to do as many road trips as we would like to these days, as we have a very active toddler who doesn’t like to sit in the car for long periods of time. But on days when the grandparents are watching our daughter and we can take off on our own for a while, we always have a great time hanging out together. Renewing our connection in the confines of our junky old car has helped us create some of the best memories we share.

Even if you don’t own our own car, you and your partner can rent one for the day or for the weekend. You can head out to a different city and explore it together, or you can find secluded spots in the wilderness way outside of any town. It doesn’t matter. What matters is the time you share bonding with your partner and getting away from your everyday life for a while. Building memories and spending time together as a couple is far more important than any Saturday chores you may have. So forget them, grab some CDs, grab you partner and GO!

Happy Couples, Happy Planet!

posted by Heather and Dan @ 3:09 PM