931: The Getaway Starts Before You Leave
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” —Alan Lakein
A getaway can be one night at a nearby hotel or a long-awaited anniversary trip across the Atlantic. Either way, the quality of the experience often depends on the conversations you have before leaving home.
As we prepare to leave for our 30th-anniversary trip to Italy, Greece, and Croatia, we are looking back at how our anniversary getaways have changed over the years.
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Our fifth anniversary involved a borrowed cabin that did not exactly impress Alisa. Our tenth was two nights at a bed-and-breakfast close enough to leave our young children with family. For our twentieth, we finally took the trip to Machu Picchu that we had discussed early in our marriage.
Each trip looked different because our life, responsibilities, and finances were different. What remained consistent was the decision to make our marriage a priority.
In this episode of the ONE Extraordinary Marriage Show, we discuss the connection between Recreational Intimacy, Financial Intimacy, and Emotional Intimacy when planning time away.
A trip creates dozens of choices about money, activities, schedules, and expectations. If those conversations do not happen ahead of time, disappointment and tension can arrive before you reaches the destination.
We also know we travel differently. Alisa becomes intensely punctual and moves quickly through airports. Tony has particular experiences he does not want to miss, including visiting his father’s birthplace in Treviglio and seeing Mars Hill in Athens. Naming those priorities ahead of time helps us decide what fits and what needs to wait for another trip.
You will hear how we saved for our 30th-anniversary trip through incremental payments, used points for airfare, discussed the experiences that mattered most to each of us, and adjusted our plans to fit the time available. We also share why you shouldn’t allow an expensive dream trip to keep you from doing something smaller now.
The purpose of a getaway is not to produce perfect pictures or follow a packed itinerary. It is to enjoy time together, make memories, and strengthen your marriage in a way that fits the season you are in.
This week, take 20 minutes to dream together. Where would you go? What would you do? What do you want the time to feel like? Then begin talking honestly about what it would take to make it happen.
Your 6 Pillars Episode Takeaways
A getaway begins with a conversation
Talk about what each of you wants to experience before making reservations. Your expectations may be different even when you both want the same trip.
Plan for the trip you can afford
Financial Intimacy allows you to discuss the full cost, save over time, use points, and choose an experience that fits your current season.
The memory matters more than the destination
Some of our most memorable anniversary trips were simple and close to home. The decision to spend time together mattered more than the price of the accommodations.
Resources
The 6 Pillars of Intimacy® Certified Coaching Program
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