The Power Of We
- Jean-Paul Courville
- Jul 6, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
By: Jean-Paul Courville
I was in an adventurous relationship for almost exactly a year. Although we’re no longer together, I walked away with something valuable—the joy of sharing moments in life. I don’t dismiss that lesson. I embrace it.
Can you relate?
Traveling alone isn’t something to fear. I’ve found it incredibly rewarding.
Some of my most meaningful trips and experiences have been solo. Sharing moments with friends or the occasional group can be exciting too—but I learned long ago not to wait on others to live my life.
People can, and often do, let you down as plans get closer to execution. Life happens. Comfort creeps in. Excuses multiply. Over the years, some of my closest friends have backed out at the last minute—sometimes for legitimate reasons, sometimes to avoid uncomfortable conversations. That reality pushed me to a decision I made years ago: I wouldn’t rely on others to pursue the life I wanted. That mindset led me to some of my most rewarding solo adventures.
Still, there’s a truth that’s followed me for decades. In 1993, Outside magazine published an article titled Death of an Innocent, later adapted into Into the Wild. It chronicled the journey of Christopher McCandless—Alex Supertramp. Before his untimely death, he wrote a line that’s stayed with me ever since: “Happiness only real when shared.” That phrase has been etched into my mind since I first read it.
This isn’t to say that traveling alone lacks value—it doesn’t. But over time, I’ve come to believe that the arc of life, the accumulation of experiences, is meant to be shared. We’re social by nature. McCandless’s journey offered escape and inspiration to many—walking away from modern life, technology, money, and expectations. But his story also ended alone. That part matters too.
Later, I discovered the beauty of meeting someone like-minded—someone who changed how I viewed adventure as a shared experience. I met Anastasia, from Wales, while we were both living in the UAE. Our connection wasn’t built on small-town gossip or recycled political sound bites. Instead, we talked about places we’d been, places we wanted to go, and the experiences that shaped us. It didn’t take long to plan our first hike together, in the Emirate of Sharjah. The chemistry was immediate and genuine. She once mentioned how often people described themselves as “outdoor types” or thrill-seekers, only to fall apart once conditions got real. I’ll admit—I smiled, knowing she wasn’t talking about me.
Then COVID arrived and changed everything. With borders closed and restrictions in place, our plans to explore Oman were put on hold. Instead of dwelling on limitations, we leaned into what was still possible. Leaving and reentering Abu Dhabi required negative COVID tests within a narrow window—something we eventually mastered while traveling to Ras Al Khaimah. But driving four to six hours south, toward the Saudi border, opened up vast, remote areas still under Abu Dhabi’s jurisdiction—no tests required.
We scouted locations together, poured over maps, divided responsibilities, and built campsites as a team. What started as logistics quickly became joy.
We found our own peninsula and returned to it often—most memorably to welcome the New Year of 2021. As the sun set, a pod of dolphins surfaced nearby, feeding on shrimp just offshore. We sat there quietly, watching the water glow, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar visible in the distance.
Moments like that don’t need validation. They simply stay with you.
And that’s the lesson I keep coming back to: independence matters, solitude has value—but shared moments leave a different imprint. One worth carrying forward.
We were making transitions in our careers at the same time and decided to spend one month in a location together were we could adventure, hike, eat healthy, have fun, get some sun, and job search virtually while battling the COVID obstacles. We narrowed it down to the Seychelles, only a four flight from Dubai (where we were living) and with unresolved business we could stop back in after a month to close loose ends before the next chapter. The COVID rules in the Seychelles at the time mandated a ten day quarantine at an approved hotel before arrival, a COVID test on the fifth day paid for by the government, with a negative result on the tenth day then granted to roam freely. We had to submit all of our pre-booked accommodations, flights, and arrangements, a current COVID test and another one 48 hours before departure, which had to be submitted to the Seychelles government for approval. Once approved we received a travel number that had to be shown at immigration on arrival and this was one of the easiest places to go. Honestly, this made me want to "throw in the towel" but she convinced me to be patient as she meticulously found an approved resort on the island of Praslin where we spent our first 10 days. It became a fantasy come true, we were the only guest, they had many kilometers of private beach and private hiking trails, a gym, and additional facilities we were allowed to use so it never felt like a quarantine. It was paradise, and with her being a water sports instructor it gave me more interest to do the stand up paddle boarding (SUP), snorkeling and kayaking together where I enjoyed it immensely. We eventually spent valuable time on Praslin, La Digue, and Mahe islands.
We made a quick stop back in Dubai to close out our final departure (a place I had lived and worked for the previous seven years) then traveled together to the United States of America (USA) my home country, her first time and we searched for new careers and explored at every turn. We spent touristic time in Washington DC, Philadelphia PA, New Orleans LA, and then a lengthy road trip out west with most of our time in Northern Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.
Traveling together can expose any couple or friends true understanding whether you have something genuinely in common or quite frankly if you can stand each others company. Anastasia is spontaneous yet well organized, she thrives with an interest to be productive, she doesn't complain if there isn't room service or if its not a fancy hotel, yet she appreciates luxury when we have it, simplicity and efficiency are something I gravitate to and she has it.
Prescott Arizona made famous for the unfortunate story of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots (Only the Brave Movie) peeked our last minute interest so we made the trekk of their last route and to the fatality site located in Yarnell.
The tourist season was in full swing during spring break in Sedona, one of the most photogenic and beautiful locations in the USA but the overwhelming amount of people turned us both off. We prefer more remote and "hard to get to" locations highlighting the old adage "if its tough for us, its tough for them" which usually confirms no tourist.
We made the best of it including a quick stop at the Grand Canyon where it was even more infested with tour buses and large families taking up the width of the trails.
One of my favorite states to adventure in and I was excited to show her so many places however, based on the recent experiences in Arizona we opted at the last minute to forgo plans to Zion and Bryce (places I have experienced with a theme park vibe more than a true experience in nature sometimes) so we traveled to Moab including a few days completely "off the grid" where driving to our accommodations was a bit of its own adventure. Nestled on the Colorado River more than 25 miles outside of Moab and on the back end of the Canyonland National Park we found our remote peace again for a recharge.
We fell in love with this great state, she reminded me of many stories I have shared where I regret after finding a location I adore I leave it too soon. My constant struggle is being over zealous with whats next and sometimes I forget to enjoy a moment.
She suggested that we stay in Colorado and embrace the moment, so we did. We spent three months living in Telluride, Vail, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains just to name some of the highlights. Growing up in Louisiana while watching all of the cowboy shows they seemed to take place in much of Colorado so it was a state I had always fantasized about and although I had been before this experience was special.
We may no longer be a couple but the lessons learned are enduring.
In life as the days, weeks, and months move forward I have embraced and enjoyed sharing a random photo and story with Anastasia reflecting on memories we made which inspire more.
