Chasing Sunsets and Patience: Planning Adventures That Never Go Exactly as Planned
Planning a vacation sounds simple enough in theory. Pick a destination, book some flights, pack a bag, and go. In reality, when your life revolves around someone else’s unpredictable schedule, it quickly turns into a careful balancing act between hope and frustration. Right now, I’m juggling the plans for three very different trips: the sweeping landscapes of the Sonoran Desert, a quick visit to family in Washington State, and the rugged peaks of Glacier National Park. And, if everything aligns, a final escape to Big Bend.
The tricky part isn’t picking destinations or figuring out what to see; it’s navigating the invisible calendar of someone else’s availability. Booking too early feels risky, like locking yourself into something that might crumble, but waiting too long is just as painful when every flight and cabin seems to disappear overnight. I’ve found myself staring at maps and hotel listings late into the night, silently negotiating with the universe, wishing I could control both time and tide.
Despite all that, there’s something thrilling about this uncertainty. It forces me to be flexible, to imagine more than one path to an adventure, and to appreciate the small victories like finally snagging a hotel, finding a hiking trail that isn’t overrun, or discovering a roadside diner that feels like it’s been waiting just for us. Planning trips has become less about perfection and more about embracing the process and taking in the little moments.
These trips are about more than just getting away they’re about inspiration, art, and breathing in a fresh perspective. Each landscape, every county road, and time spent holding my husbands hand is fuel for creativity. From the desert’s golden hues, the green forests of the Cascades or glowing blue glaciers they all spark ideas for new paintings, sketches, and stories I can’t wait to share. And the best part is experiencing them together with my husband Alex. Even when the timing is messy, even when things don’t line up perfectly, it’s still an adventure.
At the end of the day, some of my most memorable experiences have come from the parts that didn’t go as planned. A wrong turn on a hiking trail can lead to a secret waterfall and caves. A sold out hotel might push us into sleeping in the truck. The unpredictability adds a little magic to each trip, and when you’re with the right person, it doesn’t feel like a problem it feels like a real adventure. Not to glamorize it too much since when I can’t fully plan out the trips we do miss out on a lot. But in the end, even with the frustration of not being able to plan anything, I wouldn’t change my travel partner for anyone else.
Safe travels
MERC
