Ian and I met October 2011, before this time I had never really traveled, but had always had a dream that one day I would. For me, and hopefully for Ian, it was love at first sight. A happy, drunken first date on my behalf (yes I was nervous!) skipping around the park and talking his ear off, the quiet boy from the country fell in love with the bubbly, sassy girl from the city… and that’s where our journey began.
Ian was a quiet soul at first, but the more he came out of his shell the more I seen potential for not only my companion for life but also my travel buddy.
Sometimes they say two opposites make a whole, I can say for certain this was true for us two searching souls bounding to fall in love with the polar opposite of ourselves.
At first, I found I needed to push Ian to try new things, different cultures and even delve out of the comfort of the known. Places such as the local pub seemed difficult for him and nothing more exotic than a steak pie had ever been on his culinary tastes.
I will say through travel, life began for Ian… not to say it wasn’t without its difficulties and often its annoyances but slowly and surely he has transformed into the good old traveling pal I have today. Every day he surprises me with something new he has tried, a new bucket list item he wishes to ensue, and a part of his personality that make me fall more and more in love with him.
For me, travel has not only widened my eyes, my life but has been a savior of our relationship. Through joint experiences and memories we have accessed the deeper reaches of our own personal relationships as well as the boundaries of our own.
Often in times of peril, we have found comfort in each other, often far from home we have found a place within each other. And more often than not we have discovered not only the infinite possibility of the world but also the outer reaches of our souls.
Travel for me has meant freedom, insight and a better understanding of myself.
And I am so happy to have found a person to share not only the my life with, but also the beauty of the world.
This blog is our story… some already told and some that are yet to be written.
Thank you for joining us on our journey!
With Love,
Belinda and Ian
Rockin’ it since October 2011
The Long Way Home 