Been Traveling with a Birdfriend

So last Friday, I wrote up the majority of a blog post, and then the internet ate it. No, really. I was so annoyed, I couldn't bring myself to try and re-write the post and decided to leave it for another week.

I've been away - to the north island of New Zealand, to be exact - and since I've been back, I've been waiting to extend the feeling of vacation time into my normal day-to-day. Hence, why I haven't been active on this blog for about a month...

For anyone who knows me, they know that I love to travel. Especially by myself. But this time, I went travelling with my Birdfriend, and we had a great adventure together.

It was interesting travelling with Birdfriend, especially since I know that most people weren't sure how to "read" us. We decided early on in our trip to tell people that we are "friends" travelling together. This was partly due to safety (sometimes you just don't know how safe a place is for queer folk) and partly due to the hassle of having to explain the nature of our relationship to others. A few times we were read as a couple. Other times, I think people weren't really sure how to read us. And still, other times we blew peoples' minds around relationships when we opened up about our poly connection. In general, we toned down our relationship as a way to ensure that we would be safe in public and the hostels.

A Birdfriend's eye-view of a trail outside of Taupo, NZ.

It was also the first time that I've been openly queer in my travels. Other times I would not self-disclose and let other travellers think whatever it was they wanted to believe about me. This time, I just didn't care as much. We weren't overly obvious in our affections in public, but to anyone who paid attention, it was clear that we were more than "just friends."

This trip was really good for the relationship I have with Birdfriend. We found time to talk out some really difficult and painful conversations that we have had a hard time discussing back at home. We also found ways to move through some really weird moments and I think that we both feel more solid and grounded in our connection as a result. The trip confirmed our ability to work collaboratively as a team and it confirmed our heart and D/s connection. For my part, and I think the Birdfriend feels similarly, I feel that this trip deepened my connection to Birdfriend.

It was interesting for me to be seen as openly queer in public as well. I get read as straight on the regular, so it was interesting how I was being perceived in relationship to Birdfriend... I'm sure some people weren't sure if I was queer or not, when Birdfriend is so obviously queer...

Under the rainbow...

I was grateful that New Zealand has progressive LGBTQ policies and is a safe place to travel as a queer person. Especially since in many countries it is illegal for women to be queer. It was also fun to notice other queer couples around, including the American girls we met in Taupo who were awesome to hang out with. And the Auckland Pride festival was gearing up while we were there, so it felt like a positive time to be queer and travelling in New Zealand.

I have lots more blog content to write, so I'm going to sign off for now. Safe journeys everyone!