by Warren Talbot and Betsey Talbot
I hadn't expected this to be about the luggage, but it sort-of was. Not the physical things they carried around on their world travels, but rather, the emotional ones. Although sometimes it was a little about the physical ones, like disconnecting from the cell phone and learning to live with the wind and stars. But more often it was how to deal with the expectations they had for each other...and themselves.
One significant chapter describes their attempt at role reversal. He was a habitual take-charger: a planner, organizer, and decision maker. She tended to hang back, follow, and worry the details. So they deliberately tried a month on/month off experiment: for one month she did the planning and leading, for the next he did it, and so on.
It was a game changer. She describes, "these daily decisions were mind-boggling." and eventually, "I began to appreciate the role Warren had been playing all along." It wasn't smooth nor seamless, and she doesn't pretend so, but it was an eye-opener to read.
Made me think hard about the habitual roles my husband and I fall into, and it just might for other readers as well. For example: usually I decide where to go and how to get there; he figures out the details of gas, water tanks (we have an RV), and propane. Sometimes we carry this division of responsibility too far, like the time we were near San Antonio and I decided I was tired of driving around and wanted to skip the planned morning of breakfast and shopping downtown. But when I announced this, I could tell he was disappointed.So for once we did what he wanted to, and it was great.
So as to this book, it's delightfully honest, fun, and it taught me some stuff. Five stars!
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