I (31F) feel like my friend’s (31F) new relationship has completely changed the dynamic of our 6 week Asia trip
I 31F planned a 6-week backpacking trip around Asia earlier this year and originally intended to do it solo. A friend 31F who was also going through a long-term breakup at the time, asked to join me and I agreed because we were in very similar places emotionally and thought it would be an amazing experience together.
The trip was supposed to be about freedom, fun, reconnecting with ourselves, and fully being in the moment after both having difficult relationships.
However, a few weeks before the trip, she has entered a very intense new relationship. They have only been together around 3 weeks but are already saying “I love you,” sharing live locations constantly, and spending nearly every day together.
What’s worrying me is not that she’s happy or dating someone. It’s that the dynamic already feels very different. When we spend time together now, her attention is often on messaging or calling her partner, and I’m becoming increasingly anxious that the trip will turn into travelling with someone who is emotionally focused elsewhere the entire time.
Six weeks is also a long time, and I worry about things like her constantly missing them, wanting to spend lots of time on the phone, relationship drama affecting the mood, or us simply not wanting the same type of trip anymore.
I did bring this up gently and she feels I’m overthinking it and says the trip will still be the same, but I honestly don’t believe it will.
I’m now at a point where I’m wondering whether I would enjoy this trip more alone, but I also know backing out of travelling together this close to the trip would likely really hurt the friendship.
Has anyone experienced something similar with long-term travel and changing relationship dynamics?