Everyone loves the story of Shirley Valentine – the middle-aged housewife who gave up her hum-drum life in the North of England for a holiday to Greece, finding love in the sun, and a new chapter in her life. But does this really happen, and if it does, are these relationships sustainable after the holiday?
When we are on holiday, we naturally relax. By relaxing and having fun in a beautiful place, without your everyday stresses, you are more susceptible to the idea of a romantic encounter. And more importantly, you feel good when you are on holiday. You smile more, you drink more and you probably flirt more – thus attracting attention, which in itself is exciting.
It’s great when you know someone likes you; and where’s the harm in spending a bit of time together when there is an obvious mutual attraction? The harm is that they are not as keen to continue the relationship after the holiday as you are. So, before you get involved with someone on holiday maybe it’s a good idea to try and find out first what they expect from you. If they have said they just want a bit of fun in the sun, that’s exactly what they want – don’t expect them to turn up on your doorstep the minute you get back to home and reality. As long as both parties have the same expectation, there is no reason why your holiday romance won’t be one to remember.
Some holiday romances do end up in a long-term relationship; even marriage. The majority of them however do not. They end when the holiday ends. If however, you are one of the lucky few, whose relationship blossoms despite the odds, then just stay realistic. You will both have commitments back at home and will need to make sure you have time to fit each other into your lives. The most likely thing also is that you won’t be living just around the corner from each other. If the relationship gets serious, one of you will eventually have to relocate – and that’s not a bad thing, it could be the start of a wonderful new path in your life.