A “Traveling Lady” shares her thoughts on traveling with friends
The Traveling Ladies in Punta Cana
On a recent trip to Mexico, I met a group of inspiring girlfriends who travel together each year.
I wrote an article about them that was published in the travel section of the Chicago Tribune, called Sun, Sand and Sisterhood. Ironically, the organizer of the trip, Jeanne Ratchford, missed out on the last trip because she had just accepted a new position at work. However, I wound up corresponding with Jeanne, by email, who told me how the trips started and graciously shared her thoughts on traveling with friends (below):
By Jeanne Ratchford
Friendships matter to me a great deal and I am willing to put in the effort to maintain those that are most important to me. After I went on a cruise with my friend, Jill, we had such a wonderful time that I thought this would be fun to do annually and with a larger group. I talked to my friends at work, came up with some ideas of where to go, and it is all history.
My nature is to “organize” so I found it easy to make our trips happen. The only ground rules are that no one is obligated to do anything they do not want to do. So if I want to sit on the beach and read, or if someone else wants to go sailing, no one is allowed to pressure anyone to join the majority. Occasionally someone may need to be reminded to remember our agreement. Luckily for us we, all get along so well and respect each other’s personal space…that it works.
The Traveling Ladies Creating More Memories in Punta Cana
Although we are all very different, we are bonded by our friendship. Common denominators–we all love to laugh (probably better defined as giggling), enjoy traveling, warm weather, sunsets, good food, and simply having fun.
Our first trip was in 2008. We went to St. Lucia and had such a wonderful time that we have repeated the fun every year since. Looking back at photos from the trips reminds me how fortunate I am to have such wonderful girlfriends. I will turn 60 in January and look forward to many, many, more years of traveling every February with my friends the Traveling Ladies.
I expect that even when we are 80 years old, we will still be giggling. What a wonderful way to navigate through life.
Have you had good experiences traveling with friends?
Category: Travel with Friends
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