Like I’ve said a gazillion times, you meet tons of travelers–alone or in small groups of 2 or 3–when you do this sort of travel, and it’s very common to team up with other those going your same way.

But companions–whether permanent or temporary–add a new dynamic to your travels, which can either greatly enhance or hamper your trip.

Some people prefer to travel alone to avoid this dynamic, but for me, I like to find a balance.

Meeting people was a HUGE part of this trip. I enjoy getting to know new, interesting people, and most people are interesting enough for the first day or so. But if someone is around for 4 or 5 days (or more!), I get a little burned out.

First, you get bored. Unless you’re lucky and totally click with someone, I find that you run out of things to talk about, and I find myself sitting more and more in silence poking at my food. Im comfortable with silence, but then I worry if they’re uncomfortable with the silence and that makes me uncomfortable.

That leads me to explain my second problem: I like to be agreeable, or in other words, I like to be a people pleaser. But this often leads to me compromising something I want to do or somewhere I want to go. For example, someone may want to go to dinner somewhere a little more expensive then I’d like, but they really want to go, and they didnt express much interest in where I wanted to go. So to be “agreeable” and avoid conflict, i conceede, and then I’m agitated after paying too much for a bad meal.

Third, they defeat the purpose of why I’m traveling alone. Sometimes they become a crutch, and I rely on them for navigation and transportation. But this agitates the Red part of my personality (see post True Colors) as I’m not doing what I’m here to do: get around on my own. This is my trip–”my” as in everything for, by, and of me. Other times they feel like a ball and chain and I feel they are looking at me to entertain them.

For me, traveling companions haven’t been that bad. I’ve really enjoyed the majority that I’ve met. Im dependent on them in so many ways to make the most of this trip. First, they make things safer in certain areas of the city. They also can offer good suggestions and recomendations on hostels and transportation. They also can double check your actions; I even had one catch me from overpaying a bill when I had a brain fart doing the math.

But some have stuck around past their expiration date, and I’ve had to deal with that.

So my conclusion? Companions should be part of the supporting cast and not earn a starring role. I think 2 days is enough. I can ask enough questions to make someone interesting for 2 days but I’ve learned I shouldn’t push my luck too much more after that.

It’s like that Seinfeld episode when George discovers if he tells a funny joke but sticks around to tell more, people don’t find him as funny. But of he leaves right after of the punch line his first joke while everyone is still laughing, everyone remembers him as being hilarious.

So I guess another thing I’m learning on this trip is how to enjoy the good company of others, for which i am grateful. I’m more that happy to compromise or go with the flow of their program to avoid being alone. But im also learning to move on before the laughs are over.