the road trip as relationship litmus test

 That is a terrible idea. This is probably why they're not married.

In a few weeks, M and I are embarking upon a week-long road trip from San Francisco to San Diego and back. We could fly to San Diego for $49 and lay on the beach for six days, but where's the fun in that? Plus, we haven't done a proper road trip yet, and we should. How one's patience fares after several days in a confined space with one's lover, critiquing each other's driving and succumbing to frequent pleas for a restroom is a good indication of the health of the relationship.

I have no doubts that I will still adore this man by the time we get to San Diego, but that does not mean there won't be moments during which I'll feel compelled to shout expletives and wonder how I could ever consider having children with someone who nearly drove us into the ocean. That happens on our regular weekend jaunts just across the Bay. A week-long journey to multiple destinations, necessitating map navigation, is a different breed of beast. I imagine we could find out all sorts of things about one another that we won't like very much. Or perhaps we'll be pleasantly surprised at how delightful we both are at the helm of our adventure wagon. 

Though, let's be honest, obviously I won't be driving. This is dangerous because it places me in the unfair position of constant passenger. No one wants to be the passenger for an entire road trip. Which means I might get a little cranky and M will probably get tired of driving. If that's not a recipe for resentment from both sides, I don't know what is. Let's just hope we don't have the "I can't believe you failed your driving test" conversation while on the open road, or I might just be the one who drives us into the ocean. 

I'm making this sound very bad. I'm sure it will be wonderful. Maybe even better than some of our other journeys together. Surely better than when we traveled back from London so hung over that I had to leave the security line twice to be sick. If our relationship is still beautifully in tact after making him hold my place in a winding queue of people who were very annoyed by my behavior (TWICE), perhaps we have a solid enough foundation to embark upon "the road trip." I guess we'll see.