After more than three years on the road, my husband Eric and I have got a fairly slick routine happening and are very much in the groove. We absolutely love every day, but I sometimes worry that we are becoming socially isolated. At first, we used to love to get together with people and share tips and stories, and it was all new and exciting. I think particularly over the past year however, we are choosing to spend more and more time just the two of us. We are committed free campers and much prefer it when we are alone at a spot. Maybe we just feel that we are veterans and we have had all the conversations before and heard all the questions. Sometimes having to deal with other people just seems too much trouble to bother with. Is it so bad just to be alone?
Hilda
No, of course it’s not so bad, Hilda … depending on the extent. You and Eric are happy and you are not harming anyone so I shouldn’t worry about it too much. Having said that, I assume that you do have regular connections with other people, albeit not on a deep basis. I imagine that you are still having even brief chats with people when you are on bushwalks and so forth. I am not sure what your future plans are Hilda, but assuming you are going to be travelling for a while longer, it is probably worthwhile making a bit of an effort to keep those social skills up. And, while you may have a fair handle on what you are about as you travel, it might still be nice to help others who might not be as slick as you are. It can be a good feeling.
Jaclyn
Trust me, Hilda, I understand that people can be annoying and they can ask what, to you, are silly questions and they can do stupid, annoying things. But … people need people! Some of us might not need that interaction as much as others, and some might even kid themselves that they don’t need it all … but they do! It’s what puts a spring in our step and puts a smile on our face (and sometimes the opposite). You and Eric are happy and contented so why not spread that joy and spare a few minutes to say ‘G’Day’ to a few people you meet. Some of what makes your journey special might be the people you share it with. And I think you’ll find spending a bit of time with others makes you appreciate that special time with Eric all the more.
Heidi
