The Honeymoon(s) I Didn’t Know I Was Missing

There are needs we learn to live without. Not necessarily because we no longer feel them, but because the routines and responsibilities of everyday life leave little room for them. The need to be courted, to feel desired, to share an adventure with someone, or simply to have another person make an occasion of spending time with us. We adapt, become practical, and sometimes forget how much we miss these things.

A virtual relationship can unexpectedly fill that space. I discovered this through a series of virtual honeymoons.

What began as an invitation to explore a few places together gradually became something much more elaborate. We were not simply teleporting between attractive locations. We were travelling as a couple, with all the little rituals that make a holiday feel special. I would research destinations, choose somewhere beautiful, plan an evening and surprise her with the next stop. She would arrive, explore, respond and immerse herself in the experience. The planning became part of the pleasure.

One honeymoon took us to an imagined corner of Africa. I chose it partly because it was familiar territory to me, but also because I wanted it to feel far away and adventurous. There was a beautiful coastal setting, a secluded villa surrounded by jungle, dinner together and the prospect of retreating from the world. We even left the honeymoon unfinished, with the promise of returning to complete it.

Another time, I imagined us in Egypt. We spend the afternoon wandering through an ancient temple, watching the sun descend over the Nile. Later, there is dinner on a terrace overlooking the river, followed by a slow dance beneath a sky full of stars. The details may be virtual, but the anticipation, the shared excitement and the pleasure of discovering it together are not.

What made these experiences meaningful was not the sophistication of the virtual locations. It was the feeling of being on a journey with someone. Someone had thought about where we might go, what we might enjoy and how to make the evening memorable. There was affection, intimacy, playfulness and, importantly, time devoted to one another.

Perhaps this is what a virtual relationship can offer that everyday life sometimes cannot: a space in which we are not defined by our jobs, obligations, family responsibilities or practical limitations. We can be adventurous, romantic, spontaneous and attentive. We can create experiences that might otherwise remain on a bucket list.

None of this means that the virtual world replaces real life. Nor does it make the feelings imaginary. The places may be pixels, but the anticipation, affection and sense of companionship belong to the people experiencing them.

Sometimes, what we miss most is not a destination. It is having someone with whom to travel through it. And sometimes, even a virtual honeymoon can remind us how deeply we needed that.