Try a Reconnection Tour

Third in a Series

If you are one of the 12 million Americans classified as a solo ager who wants to travel more, we have an enticing and novel idea for you: a reconnection tour. Just because you are aging independently doesn’t mean you lack friends or extended family scattered across the country or even the world. A reconnection tour is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with long-lost friends while exploring new places. Here’s how you can do both for a worthwhile experience:

1. Dig into the details: A key part of this type of travel is a love of diving deep into the planning process. A reconnection tour requires meticulous attention to detail. You need to plan who you will see, but also where you want to go and what you want to do. 
2. Reconnect with friends: Take a trip down memory lane and recall friends from various stages of your life: grade school, high school, college, first jobs, and more. Don’t forget to consider family members as well. You may have lost touch with some of these individuals over the years, but fear not—social media is your ally. Reach out to them, inform them about your plans, express your desire to reconnect, and see if they are interested in your visiting. 
3. Plan an itinerary: Identify the locations where your selected connections reside and map a route connecting these destinations. Consider the distance between each place and evaluate whether a road or multi-city plane trip is more suitable. The choice of transportation will depend on various factors, such as the geographical proximity of the locations and your personal preferences.
4. Coordinate calendars: Reach out to your friends and family members to determine the dates and locations where you can meet up. This collaborative effort will create a sense of anticipation and excitement as you count down the days to your reunions. It’s also an opportunity to ask them about their favorite places in their area, allowing you to immerse yourself in planning so that you can discover the local culture and hidden gems.
5. Maintain a sense of independence: Remember, you don’t want to impose on anyone’s hospitality. Make arrangements for your accommodation, whether a hotel room or an Airbnb. If you’re traveling by air, consider renting a car or investigating public transportation to ensure you can explore each location at your own pace. 
6. Strike a balance: To find balance between quality time with your friends and personal exploration, you can consider breaking down each location into a three-day schedule. On the first day, arrive and check-in, followed by a delightful dinner with your friend to reconnect. On the second day, set off on an adventure to discover the great local places of interest on your own. Finally, on the third day, enjoy breakfast or coffee with your friend, and perhaps even take a quick sightseeing tour of their favorite spots before bidding farewell and heading to your next destination. Remember the old saying, “Guests and garbage start to stink after three days,” so this schedule ensures a harmonious balance between reconnecting and personal space. If three-day stints seem too rushed, feel free to extend the time––this is your reconnection tour!
7. Capture the moments: Document these heartwarming encounters through photos or videos, creating a beautiful keepsake of your reconnection tour. These memories will serve as a testament to the power of friendship and your incredible journey.

So, if you’re a solo ager yearning for adventure and human connection, a reconnection tour might just be the perfect solution. A reconnection tour is not just about the destinations you visit but about the people you reconnect with along the way. It’s an opportunity to bridge time and distance gaps, rekindle old friendships, and create new memories. So, if you’re ready for a journey that combines exploration and reconnection, set your sights on a reconnection tour and let it be the catalyst for an extraordinary chapter in your solo aging journey.

Throughout this “Going It Alone” section of this blog, we will share learnings from others navigating retirement alone, so that you don’t have to do it all alone.