The Booker, The Planner and The Vibes

I travel annually with two of my girlfriends … the memes where one does all the bookings, one creates the itinerary and the other travels on vibes? That’s us … give or take. 

I typically book the flights … I like the details on comings and goings … do I especially enjoy booking flights? No. Do I think finding flights is much more complicated than it needs to be? Yes. 

I used chat … pulled up all the saved tricks I saved over my media feeds … Do I think this saved me enough to justify the time I spent investigating flights, routes, all the options? No. Given it’s not just my money being spent - do I feel like I was diligent enough that the price I got was good? Yes. 

Is chat making fun of me and now dropping the F word in our chats? Also yes. Are the flights booked and now I have moved into helping look for accommodations? Yes. Is that as frustrating as searching for flights? Absolutely. 

I want to search by neighbourhood. Doing this is much more complicated than it has any right to be. The girlies that travel on vibes? OMG … I see you, I feel you … I get you!

My one friend is utterly brilliant at itineraries … like should create a whole business around it good … We will see and do everything there is to do and then some. That’s one of the perks of having a friend with this core strength … Once the bookings are complete … I’m a travel on vibes girlie … She moves into planning, researching … 

Our travel on vibes girlie isn’t really a travel on vibes girlie … except she also is … She likes dates, to know the flights and accommodations are booked … she doesn’t need to do it … but likes to have the dates and evidence that those boxes are checked. She likes her vacations booked … I think it’s a combination of pressure at work to get them into their booking system and partly her personality. Having boxes unchecked makes her anxious. Once that’s sorted … She's game for anything and all vibes. 

While the meme makes me laugh … because there is a level of accuracy … there also isn’t … I like to have the booking sorted, that’s the practical part of my brain, flights booked, room secure and dates sorted … I think large and small … I map in quarters - three month increments … sometimes bigger and then obviously smaller … the when, how and where are the framework … it’s what I bring to the table. 

Our should be planning itineraries as a career girl? This isn’t her role because of her view of time … she brings depth. She wants to understand where we are going so she can map out a “what” that leaves all of us feeling like we experienced a place, a culture, a feeling … She reads about it, checks social media, maps out our days based on geography, what’s open and when, and checks food options for the area we are in on a particular day.  I can truthfully say I don't know her process … she will come to the airport with a travel book (or two), notes and coloured post-its. 

Our anxiety vibes girlie?  She’s actually right in there while we are away helping with navigation. She’s got eyes out for the next stop, the streetsign, she’s got eyes on the clock so we don’t miss our tour start time.  She essentially helps enforce all the work that went into the itinerary. 

I feel I need to point out that none of us are rigid travellers. We adapt as necessary. Sometimes - despite all the planning - things happen … you discover things that weren’t on any media post or in any book and it looks marvelous … you miss a connection because your flight left late and your first day has no choice but to change. Life happens - even when on holiday … travelling with people who can say this not that on the fly? Well, I think that makes for better travel. 

I like that we each bring something to the table … we each let each other bring our strengths, personalities etc. and respect that each of us need to do that. It’s the give and take that allows us to be friends, to travel well together, to experience all the moments, the places and create all the memories. 

I think that matters.

I’m learning this life I have … It’s not just about saving all the things for later … it’s also not being reckless with my resources (time, money, energy etc.) … this is where balance matters … This is where understanding what’s important to me matters. 

While I don’t need to chase moments, I’m also not saying no to all of them either. 

Travelling matters to me. I like exploring, experiencing new places, the mix of history, art and culture. I love architecture, food, and artistry. While I understand flying is a part of that equation - the funny thing is, I don’t actually love that part. At all. I accept it is the practical way to experience the places I want to experience.  

As a result - I prefer to arrive early … not because I particularly like hanging around airports but because once I have cleared security I can relax. Short of boarding, I’ve done everything in my control to ensure I’m where I’m supposed to be when I’m supposed to be there. I’m not missing a flight because I failed to arrive on time. 

I’m looking forward to this trip - last year, with moving, I didn’t go anywhere … It was the right choice given all the things … Just like going somewhere this year is also the right choice given all the things. 

Travelling with my pack, for me, makes the experience better. I enjoy travelling with others - I prefer travelling with others. I think because I travelled with work once upon a time, I don’t love travelling solo. There is something about seeing the world through the lens of others and having them see it through yours that is meaningful … intimate even. We see things that I wouldn’t have taken the time to see on my own … things I would have missed that I’m utterly glad I didn’t … I love that … I love that those experiences are part of why we travel together. 

So, are we a travel meme? Maybe. Would I trade that? No. I like what we each bring to the table - the architecture, the depth and making the trip work while we’re in it -  it’s part of the experience itself … stories live in the planning not just in the travel itself. 

For now, the flights are booked and I’m ready to go … The rest … well … It's in progress and is giving me something to look forward to.