Traveling with Other People.
Our first trip started out with us travelling with our friends David &
Merrilyn Peck and due to their need to get home to spend Christmas with family
ended with our travelling on our own. As we enjoyed both times and parted with
David & Merrilyn on the best of terms this left us in the unique position
of being able to analyse both situations in an unbiased way.
Traveling with Friends
The Pro’s – There is a great feeling of security when you take some of
home with you!
When first starting out it is nice to travel in tandem to learn from one
another’s mistakes and to support one another in remedying those situations.
On your first few roadside camps where no caravan park is available
(some people prefer these because they are generally cost free) it is nice to
know that you have friends next door in case they are needed. This is in fact a
learning curve thing, as we never saw any trouble in these places that would
appear to be as safe as any other place you might camp.
Some things could be shared in for example the girls would take it week about
to cook a roast dinner.
Tools, tapes, screws and glues could be shared as needed.
Security duties can be shared in that 1 person can be left with the
caravans (in unsecured areas such as roadsides or unoccupied car parking areas)
whilst the others can head off to see or check something.
With planning at the beginning you can be increasing your spares in the
way of tyres etc if you have compatible vehicles.
Outside influence from friends can often see you doing or seeing
something that you would not normally have considered which can be a great
plus.
The Con’s – It is hard enough to cater to a partners whims without
increasing it by extra factors!
No matter how hard you try you will have to bend to make it all work for
everyone which means that you will, at least initially, leave places sooner or
later than you want in order to stay together. After a time you will learn to
part and re-meet which will remedy this problem.
It doesn’t count as to how well you thought you knew your friends you
don’t know all of their idiosyncrasies. Unless you have previously lived with
them, their “home character” has been left at home when visiting with you or
put in a draw whilst you visited them in their home. This of course also
applies to yourself or selves. We are all complex individuals and these
complexities will become apparent and have to be catered to when you are
traveling together especially if you do so too closely. Of course it goes
without saying that the reverse is true and your friends will be putting up
with the peculiarities that you and your partner inhabit.
Differences in standards will become apparent and need to be tolerated,
dropped or lifted to meet which can be very difficult.
Different people want to and are able to do different things. Great care
must be taken so as not to allow others to cause you to miss out on doing
something you want to do. Conversely it is important not to try to push an
unwilling individual to do that with which they are not willing or comfortable.
Traveling Alone as a
Couple
The Pro’s – You will be doing whatever you want within of corse the
restrictions of your own relationship!
There is no commitment to others to be ready at any time to do anything.
If you make a silly mistake the only ones that will know are those that
you wish to tell.
Plans can be changed on a whim.
You will meet more people as you are not in a group situation when you
arrive anywhere.
Traveling will be at your own pace.
The Con’s!
Your sense of backup for emergency situations will have disappeared.
It is nice to socialise with your friends and that will be very much
missed.