It’s no secret that I like to travel.
I’ve always had wanderlust in my blood, and I think this is shared with many of my generation. The amount of former and current classmates I see traveling and studying abroad is exponential. It seems we all just want to get away – from work, school, family, drama. We want something new, something fresh.
It’s why I love going on day trips around New York. No matter how long you’ve lived somewhere, there will always be a new place to explore or learn about. New York City, in particular, has always sated my curiosity and my need to be anywhere but home. New faces, new construction sites, new billboards, new cars – it makes me grateful for the things that have remained the same. Things like my family and friends.
Because I’ve done the whole road trip thing. I’ve done it with friends and family. I’ve done it on my own. Despite all the fights that take place, the fears of being away from home, and the wrong turns, I’ve enjoyed every minute of them.
Both have their positives and negatives. When you travel on your own, there’s more time for personal growth and exploration. You get to know your true self, the person you are when you don’t need to wear masks for other people. But it can also be lonely. Sometimes I see something amazing – a sunset, the light reflecting off the water and lighting up my world – and just want someone to share it with.
Traveling with other people is always a test of character. Whether you know them well or not, traveling together is stressful. That’s just what happens when you lock any group of people in a vehicle for hours on end. But for every stressful moment, there is a relaxing one where you’re leaning against each other at the end of the day. And those moments make every flat tire and every gas station bathroom break worth it.
So, I have no regrets. After every adventure, I return home to my roots to plan my next excursion. I wonder if I’ll ever just be content to stay in one place forever. My generation is always pressured to settle down and start being an “adult” as soon as possible. But honestly, I don’t think I’d like being with someone who agrees with this idea of “settling.” I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have a home to always come back to. I always miss my hometown when I’m gone. But I don’t want to be with someone who expects me to stop going on adventures.
I think we all want someone who’d go with us instead. On any new journey, whether they’re literal ones (like actual roadtrips) or figurative ones (like raising kids or in my case, puppies). Who doesn’t want a partner in crime? Whether it’s platonic or romantic, I think we’re all looking for the perfect adventure buddy.
We’re all looking for the person who’ll say, “I’ll go everywhere with you.”
And maybe when I finally find that person and we’ve had as many adventures as one can in a lifetime and I can’t possibly do anymore, I’ll understand that having someone to go “nowhere with” is just as special. I admit that that's one lesson that I'll only learn with age.
Until then, travel on.
