In my opinion, the true test of a relationship is in whether you can tolerate each other for an extensive period of time in a claustrophobic setting.

That is why every couple should go on a road trip together.

Nothing says love like 10+ hours stuck in a car and still managing to kind of like each other afterwards.

Last week my boyfriend and I embarked on the treacherously long drive from South Carolina to Illinois. We packed up his Mitsubishi Lancer to the brim with our luggage (and of course, snacks) and hit the road.

Within 30 minutes of driving, I had already downed 2 cups of iced coffee and was ready to explode. Matt hastily pulled over with a scowl as I scurried into the gas station. We then continued on the arduous journey to the windy city.

The next hour we alternated between our musical preferences, debated on where to stop for lunch, and argued about whether the windows should be up or down, the air hot or cold, and who should drive the second half of the trip.

In between these mild disagreements, however, there was something comforting about the fact that we were traveling together.

Yes, we were cramped. Yes, we were cranky. And yes, I was a little gassy. (Sorry, Matt.) Despite these hurdles, however, we enjoyed the rather aesthetically pleasing northbound cruise. Traveling is fun, but traveling with a companion is even better.

We had the opportunity to learn more about each other. We got to learn what really pushed our buttons (for Matt, slow drivers; for me, when Burger King is out of chicken fries) but we also had time to really talk. Road trips are the perfect opportunity to test the patience of your significant other, their desire to explore, and their ability to go with the flow.

We made a few spontaneous pit stops along the way that not only allowed us to stretch our legs, but also to take a trip down memory lane. Nostalgia was in the air as we revisited the places that made our childhoods special. It felt as though we had known each other all our lives, contrary to the near 365 days we have been an item.

The point I am trying to make is that all couples still have so much to learn about each other. Being confined to a car for an extended period of time is the perfect opportunity to do so. Well, I’m off to bed now, because the ride home commences in t-5 hours. Over and out.