It never ceases to amaze just how effective travel can be at bringing likeminded people together, even when they start out seeming so different. Just look at Jessica and Laurence, this week’s featured bloggers on This Seat’s Taken. Travel brought them serendipitously together, and as the faces behind Independent Travel Cats and Finding the Universe, they’ve been blogging and traveling full time for the last several years. If anyone knows how to make love work on the road, it’s definitely these two!
And, lucky for us, they’ve kindly shared some of the experiences that have made them the couple they are today, as well as some advice that has come from all their time on the road together.
What’s your story?
We met in Italy – Laurence was giving a talk at a conference, and Jess was in the audience. Afterwards we ended up on a trip together for a few days… a few months later we were engaged!
We both came to having travel the focus of our lives a bit differently, although it’s always been a big part of our lives. Laurence started his travels full time in 2009 as part of a search to find something he really wanted to do in his life, which turned out to be travel writing and travel photography. Jess always loved traveling, but it was largely as shorter trips whilst working.
After we met and got together, we decided to focus on travel blogging together as our primary thing, and we now live, work and travel together full time, and have done since 2015.
Do you have the same travel style or different travel styles? How does this impact your adventures together?
We have fairly different styles! Jess loves to plan things out, whereas Laurence is a bit last minute with his travel style. Laurence also loves the outdoors – hiking and adventure travel. Jess is happier experiencing museums and learning about the culture of a destination.
The good news is that we make it work, and we both get to try things that previously we might not have done. Communication is always key of course, to making sure that everyone is happy.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from traveling as partners? What makes your partnership work on the road?
It’s a question of identifying who is good at what and letting them get on with it. Jess for example is much better at planning, whereas Laurence is good at turning a plan into reality – finding the best hotel or car hire deals for example for the planned dates.
It’s also important to make sure that whatever we do covers both our interests. Traveling, living and working with someone 24/7, 365 days a year is definitely a test of any relationship, and we’re not going to pretend we don’t have the odd argument, but definitely overall by talking to each other we make it work.
What’s the best part about traveling as partners? And the biggest challenge?
Well, being together all the time is obviously a bonus. Shaping our own destiny and being self-employed is really wonderful, although of course, the pressure and stress of having to do everything ourselves can feel a bit overwhelming sometimes.
The biggest challenge is probably managing our downtime. When you’re self-employed, any “time-off” can feel like you’re slacking, so definitely giving ourselves a break can be a challenge sometimes.
Based on your experience, what’s the best advice you have for couples who have just scheduled their first trip together?
Absolutely make sure that whatever you are planning takes into account what both of you want to do. And don’t be afraid to do things on your own if you want to. Sometimes Laurence will go hike a mountain while Jess enjoys a spa or museum visit.
Save and share the wisdom!
This Seat’s Taken interview series: John & Michelle of The Great Wide Somewhere
