How to Survive Traveling as a Couple
These survival skills might just save your relationship while living together on the road.
People often ask us what it’s like to travel full-time as a couple and how we manage to spend nearly every minute together. For some couples, the idea of being together 24/7 feels as appealing as a root canal without anesthesia, and you'd expect us to want to strangle each other at some point. 😝
But the reality is it’s not as horrible as you think!
While there are challenges and disagreements, like who’s the better driver or how we should pack the vehicle, we typically get along very well.
Maybe it’s because we’ve been around each other for so long while working from home, or since we’re both extremely passionate about road life, but traveling together has never been a problem. Besides, you can survive any relationship issue with counseling and modern drugs. 😘
Here’s the deal.
If you truly care about your partner, you can work through almost anything, and I’m gonna give you some tips on how to do it.
The Best Survival Tips I Can Offer
In 33 years of marriage, I’ve messed up countless times and learned many valuable lessons about making a relationship work — though, to be honest, I still don’t always get it right. For some reason, I enjoy kicking hornet nests and dealing with the consequences.
Anyways. If you want to make your road trip enjoyable, here’s what I know.
1. Have a positive mindset.
The most valuable advice for getting started as a traveling couple is to have a positive mindset from the very beginning.
If you go into it thinking the experience will suck, you’re going to have a huge problem. And I guarantee there will be no nookie for you! On the other hand, if you decide it will be an awesome adventure and focus on the good, you'll have a much better outcome overall.
But let me be clear. It’s not always easy.
My moods can swing like a deadly pendulum, causing serious chaos, and there are times she has murderous menopausal moments. Sometimes we have to work harder to avert World War III.
Yet overall, we look at all the positives, strive to practice love and patience, and then mix in some make-up sex and a lot of good laughs!
2. Practice clear communication.
Couples aren’t always good at communicating, especially when it’s between a man and a woman, because interpreting those words doesn’t always come across correctly. And despite what women think, men can’t read minds.
Regardless of whom you have a relationship with, it’s essential to communicate clearly with each other. Sometimes this requires patience and breaking things down so even a six-year-old could understand it.
Those who learn to communicate will adapt nicely.
3. Avoid unnecessary fights at all costs.
There are times when going into battle is a good idea, like when packing a van for travel. Then there are many more times when it’s even better to just keep the peace.
Pick and choose your battles wisely as a couple. Often, we let the smallest things turn into a war, and it’s unnecessary.
Take a deep breath, give it some time before speaking, and then see if it’s worth the fallout. Most of the time it’s not.
4. Work together as a team.
You will always need someone to support you. This means you need to trust each other completely and find ways to collaborate on everything you do. Sometimes, it will require compromises and sacrifices. But that’s true in any situation relationship.
It’s important to encourage and support each other through challenges because there will be times when life on the road gets tough.
Help each other out and you’ll be amazed at the results.
Don’t be afraid to give it a go.
When I was younger, I never imagined in a million years I’d be married and traveling full-time as a couple, yet it’s been one of the most rewarding times in my life. We love our time together and look forward to every opportunity to be out on the road.
If you’re thinking about exploring the world and jumping into the unknown as a couple, just know you can do it.
Many fun adventures await you both.
Just remember to laugh a lot!