for months at a time a few times a year,
every time begging him to come with
me. He’d beg me not to leave. Year
after year I explored new countries and
cultures by myself. I love solo travel but
there were so many things I wanted to
share with him. So many experiences I
wanted to have with him.
Over the course of our six-year relationship we planned our life together
– apart. By this I mean, we planned
our future while physically distant and
planned to continue our distance. The
longer we were together the more I
realised our lifestyles were becoming
more and more incompatible. The man
who had once wanted to go to New
Zealand and explore unchartered territory now wanted to settle down, buy a
home and start a family.
Grenoble, France
A Lifestyle Choice
Henry and I were college sweethearts.
We met shortly after I moved back from
living in Greece. He once told me it was
my love of travel that initially drew him
to me; ironic, as this later tore us apart.
My research took me all over the world.
Year after year I’d pack up and leave
I compromised. I chose not to live outside of the U.S. on a permanent basis
and was based in his home state. There
came a point, however, when compromise was no longer possible.
Not your typical run away bride
I didn’t leave Henry at the alter. I loved
him too much to embarrass him like
that. Sure we had our problems like every couple, but I loved him and he loved
me. We were together for six years, a
year and a half of which we were engaged to be married.