Chris

rosefox already posted a more thorough travelogue here.

I just want to say that it is a joy and a delight to travel with R, because we're anxious planner pragmatists in a whooole lot of the same ways. It is so relaxing to know that when my travel partner says "the dresser is cleared", I don't have to go look. Also when R says "don't worry about me waking up; I wake up differently for travel", I trust R completely and let it go. Hooray!

And vice versa! We flew out from NY to Miami, and from there to NOLA... except the first leg was delayed, and we were definitely gonna miss the second leg. I put together our options, taking into account personal preference and the lack of calendared items, and suggested that we stay overnight in Miami rather than rushing and stressing for no actual return. Win!

It feels like we passed a relationship hurdle of sorts. It also was one of the times I've most strongly felt like I was with a partner and peer, in that we supported each other and trusted each other and generally had a good time together. Even through the sick and the travel fuckery and the wretched lack of accessibility in the hotel, we were together, and thus it was fine.

("We were determined to have a good time" is not sufficient, because I at least did not have to be determined. We were together, and we could handle whatever cropped up, and everything was fine.)

I may have to rethink my "I dislike travelling" self-assessment, if this is what I've been missing out on. I'm more likely to stress out when I'm alone, I am actually more hermit than not, and I'm a huge pragmatist and so don't always find the point in visiting a city for the strollz. (Har.) (a) Rose and I help each other stay unstressed. (b) R is really good with suggesting going-out things I might enjoy, and I'm good at pushing myself to go out at least somewhat. (c) Given point B, I'm more capable of visiting with a city.

(Not to mention, it's super-rare that I tire of talking with Rose, plus we have similar "I need to introvert now" things, which means I don't burn myself out so quickly.)

It totally helped that NOLA reminds me of PDX so much. There are differences, which is why I said "reminds me of" and not "is exactly like", but the only horrible one is the humidity.

Also, holy shit do I feel better in men's clothes. They fit! Amazing.

Post subject to change based on R providing input. My memory is crap today. *wry*