Sometimes kismet works in mysterious ways – and brings two likeminded people together for the adventure of a lifetime. Through all kinds of adventures and travels, Peter and Lindsay of Where is Your Toothbrush? (potentially one of the most adorable blog names ever) have come to appreciate each others’ strengths and weaknesses more than they could have imagined. Happily, they’ve weighed in below on how the rest of us can learn from their experiences.
What’s your story?
We met in 2002 in the Netherlands. Peter, a Slovak, was attending university in Leiden, and Lindsay, an American, was visiting a childhood friend who also happened to be Peter’s housemate.
Travel is such a big part of our lives because it is in our relationship’s DNA. We’re each other’s best friend and ideal travel mate.
Do you have the same travel style or different travel styles? How does this impact your adventures together?
Peter’s penchant for improvisation and figuring it out as we go (he’ll talk to anyone) meshes well with Lindsay’s planful nature (she makes all the flight and accommodations arrangements). This way we get to see/do and we stay safe.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from traveling as partners? What makes your partnership work on the road?
We learned more about each other traveling than ever before. We appreciate and complement each other’s strengths and quirks. We no longer take anything, including each other, for granted, and we’ve learned to set our egos aside for the benefit of the travel experience, wherever we are.
What’s the best part about traveling as partners? And the biggest challenge?
Seeing the world through each other’s eyes. On our travels, we do Angel Days. Like the two angels in Wim Wenders’s movie “Der Himmel ueber Berlin” [“Wings of Desire”], we go off for the day to see/do what we’re individually interested in seeing/doing and then at the end of the day share what we saw. It helps alleviate the challenge of being together 24/7 and expands our horizons.
Based on your experience, what’s the best advice you have for couples who have just scheduled their first trip together?
Count your blessings. You are with the person you love and you are about to embark on a grand adventure together. Let go, recognize that traveling is a lonely pursuit, and appreciate what you have.
Any additional thoughts or words of wisdom?
It takes time to learn how to travel together well as a couple. If you are new to traveling together, train yourselves. Take day trips, then overnights, then longer vacations, and so on to learn about each other’s travel style and build up to major travel projects like round-the-world trips or even location independence.
Don’t forget to share the wisdom!
6 big ways couples travel can define your relationship
