Road trip
Mrs. Happy and I both took the day off work yesterday so that we could spend some time together and do a little Christmas shopping. We both wanted to get out of our little Long Island town, so we decided to try visiting Sag Harbor. We had heard that it is a quaint village on the eastern end of the island nestled in among the Hamptons with all the same picturesque beauty and none of the presumption. It's less than 80 miles away, but with Long Island traffic, a bewildering state highway system, and my highly fallible sense of direction, it took us nearly three hours to find it.
We weren't disappointed. The shops were wonderful and the people were friendly as long as the conversation didn't veer into politics. We visited the gallery of a local artist whose paintings were some of the most powerful art I've ever seen. (The Web images do not do them justice.) We had some fresh seafood, which was excellent. All in all, it was a wonderful day.
Even better than the town, though, was the drive. Maybe my favorite activity in the world is a road trip with people I love. There's nothing like being cooped up in a small, enclosed space with little to occupy your mind except the people you're with. Being in a car together for hours at a time leads to some of the most personal, intimate conversations you'll ever have. The passing miles seem to draw everyone closer. The close proximity demolishes every facade. The exhaustion borne of cramped quarters and high speeds lowers inhibitions, so everyone speaks freely, which means everyone ends up learning about each other, and even themselves. Take all that and multiply it by ten when you take a road trip with your favorite person in the world.
It's not like my wife and I don't communicate on a regular day. We may talk more than any married couple I know. But during this trip we laid our hearts bare in a way we haven't done in quite a while. We didn't come to any earth-shattering revelations or anything, but we did reach a deep level of emotional intimacy. I treasure every road trip we've taken, and the one yesterday ranks right up there with the best of them.
I think every couple should take a road trip periodically. It's a time to be intentional about being with one another. It's a time to get reacquainted with each other's real self. It's a time to bond and reconnect.
When I was in college, several of my friends held the opinion that a couple should spend a thousand hours together before considering marriage. They said it takes at least that long to really get to know a person. I think ten hours alone in a moving vehicle would be more effective and efficient.
