To Bling Or Not To Bling

Lately, my most frequently asked question in regards to traveling has been about whether or not I don my dearly beloved wedding ring on our adventures. I contemplated sharing my opinion on the blog a few times, but when I found myself in complete disagreement with this article from one of my most trusted travel sources, I knew I needed to speak up.

I understand. You’re newly engaged or married and about to set sail on your most beautiful adventure to date. All the Instagram-worthy photo opportunities to come won’t shine nearly as bright as the new jewel on your finger. Here’s the question you need to ask yourself…. if you love it so much, wouldn’t you rather ensure its safety, and yours?

While I preach to keep your heart open, letting go of fear and traveling with an appreciation for your destination; the truth is that you’re at your most vulnerable when traveling. Why? Because you are in unknown territory. Particularly in a foreign country, you are likely to feel less confident in your sense of direction and more likely to find yourself in a precarious situation. Every city, state and country has the potential for danger. You’re not guaranteed free of harm at any sector. The idea here is simply about limiting exposure. To have one less thing to worry about when traveling, so you can relax a little deeper and wander a little further outside your comfort zone.

This is why I absolutely disagree with Travel + Leisure’s recommendation to travel with a fake wedding ring. By suggesting a traveler tote around an extravagantly beautiful false diamond, you are still welcoming the attention of someone with ill intentions and setting yourself up for potential threat. Why not nix it from the get go?

You can absolutely make a judgement call based on your destination and type of excursion. Staying inside a well-known resort, sipping mojitos, may make you more comfortable than trekking the rain forest in a politically volatile country. I still choose, 9 times out of 10, to leave my ring under careful protection instead of taking the risk.

Sometimes, I will travel with just my wedding band, as it is very dainty and not nearly as valuable or eye-catching as my engagement ring. Other times I go without the lot all together. Every once in a while, there isn’t the option and you just have to remember all of your other traveling tips about planning ahead and monitoring your surroundings. I’m happy to share more of those tips with you if you need them!

An item I’ve been telling myself to buy is one of those workout rings. The stretchy, rubbery kind that cost very little, won’t attract attention and won’t rip your finger off if you like to take on physically challenging feats while vacationing. As silly as it sounds, these rings come in so many options that I haven’t been able to choose one. Is this an Enneagram 1 thing?

Anyway, if you find yourself asking this same question, please contemplate what I’ve shared and make your best educated decision.