The words of Rich Marx’s “Endless Summer Nights” tune come to mind when I think about holiday romances, as shared with me by some rather unfortunate holidaymakers who’ve experienced such. Perhaps you could say they’re fortunate, but that’s where the discussion of just why holiday romances aren’t all too practical comes in.
Of course by “not very practical” I don’t really mean that they should never take place or that they should never be entertained and I’m certainly not suggesting that they never work out for the best. I am talking from the point of view of a traveller after all — a true traveller who has long since dismissed what society deems to be convention and the various roles society seems to have all laid out for all of us really. So a holiday romance may not be practical in the eyes of the convention-keepers, whoever they are, but to the traveller who has a knack for making last-minute plans and adjusting to the situation unfolding right in front of their eyes, they can really make it work.
The stars seem to be aligned
To address the first part of the statement, that being just why holiday romances are so intense, it’s simply a matter of the stars appearing to be aligned perfectly for that romance to blossom. Think about it — you see this girl or guy walking down the beach in the opposite direction to the one you’re walking in. Both of you look really good because you’ve had all the time in the world to pamper yourselves, being on holiday and all, so chances are you look your best, sparking a physical attraction like no other. You get to talking and obviously share a common passion for travel, which is often as intense as any emotion on earth and so the stars seem to be in perfect alignment for a romance to blossom.
You have lots of experiences to share, each of which draw the full interest of the other since you both have a world view on things — all of which only serves to aggravate any developing feelings of romance. It’s like the perfect storm with sparks flying everywhere and the destination y
ou’re both enjoying is that much more fun in the company of someone with whom you have quite a bit in common.
Having to go back to reality
Now to address the practicality of it all, the idea of a holiday romance usually takes the form of something rather temporary and something which is being kept alive by the very fact that it should be enjoyed as much as possible, while it lasts. Sooner or later you’ll both have to go back to reality — back to your everyday lives and you’re perhaps both completely different people to the free-spirits you are when you’re letting your hair down and enjoying some time out.
It would be this assimilation into each other’s regular lives which would suggest that a holiday romance should remain just that — a holiday romance.