I strongly believe that you don’t really know someone until you drive in a two-door car with him or her for 20 hours. Yes, in a relationship, you potentially see yourself being with this person for the rest of your life, but let's get real -- if you can’t be in a car with them for long, how do you expect to one day live with them? I think the 20-hour drive to Key West, Florida, with my other half was what made me realize that I actually think I could be with him for the rest of my life. Of course, I hate when he tells me how to drive because in my head, I am a perfect driver with a clean driving record, but this car trip really strengthened our relationship for the better. Relationships are all about balance -- you have to balance each other out. I am the crazy one who makes everything into an adventure; he is the mature one who can have a good time but at the same time be very reserved. I think we bring out the best in each other, and without him, I would be lost (in life and with driving directions).
So here are five reasons you should take a road trip with your lover.
1. You learn a lot about their music choices -- "Is it too late now to say sorry?"
When you are on a road trip, you have to have the perfect playlist with everything on it from Bieber to Toby Keith… And if your partner can’t deal with you screaming at the top of your lungs and doing great dance moves while having your foot on the pedal, they don’t deserve you anyways.
2. You have to deal with bathroom breaks and sketchy rest stops.
If you're anything like me, you have to stop every hour to use the bathroom. Hopefully they don’t get mad that you make them come into the rest stop with you because you are scared. Although we like to pretend we are strong, independent women, nothing is scarier than truckers smoking cigarettes outside the women’s bathroom.
3. Pumping gas becomes an adventure.
Stopping at gas stations at 3 a.m. is something that you have to experience during a long car trip. May the odds be ever in your favor! When we traveled, I forgot to call my bank so my credit card got declined at the pump. When I went inside to pay, the lady in front of me thought it was OK to pay for her cigarettes in all quarters, so 20 minutes later, we were back on the road. Remember that having patience is key in long roadtrips.
4. Napping at rest stops becomes oddly fun and thrilling.
By hour 10, you are both so tired that you have to pull over for your safety, so nothing is better than cuddling up in your car at a rest stop to catch a few quick Z’s.
5. By the end of this trip, you know everything about one another.
They know your personality, how you are under stress (from bad drivers), what your fast food preferences are and how a road trip with anyone else couldn’t be better than one with your better half.
