“Baby Please Don’t Go”: how to tell your partner you want to travel solo.
Your partner may be thinking “who will I lean on?” and “who will drink the other cup of coffee?”.
“You’re going where? When? Alone?
What about me?”
Do you get the sense that your partner is thinking: “Baby, please don’t go.”?
Yes, this post was inspired when I heard this classic blues tune. (A great video of it sung by John Lee Hooker and Van Morrison is below.)
And I thought, this is an important topic. People who see the real benefits of solo travel may be with someone who doesn’t. And they will likely want to travel alone whether they’re part of a couple or not.
So, what’s the challenge? To travel solo and maintain the relationship as well. So I give you…
9 tips for partners who want to travel solo.
- Don’t travel solo to run away from a deteriorating relationship.
- Do travel solo to enrich your life as well as your relationship.
- Don’t spring the idea of traveling solo on an unsuspecting partner. Muse about taking time on your own well in advance. Talk about taking a few hours or a day to yourself. Talk about the idea that maybe someday you’ll want to travel on your own.
- Explain why you want to go away. This may be about having the time to write or draw or explore things that do not interest your partner. Or it may simply be that you enjoy exploring local cultures and it is always easier when alone.
- Be clear about your departure and return times.
- Work out with your partner exactly how often and by what means you will communicate when you’re away.
- Share your itinerary including hotels and dates with your partner and keep them informed of changes to your plan.
- Don’t document everything, every minute and share it with your partner. Don’t be concerned about every detail that is going on at home. Really travel solo.
- On your return be as interested in what’s happened in your partner’s life as you are enthusiastic about what you’ve experienced while traveling solo.
