Two friends maintain their bond through an annual travel tradition

Anna Staropoli and her lifelong friend Ellie maintain their friendship through a tradition of traveling together at least once every year.

The two women grew up together in a rural area of New Jersey and have known each other for more than 15 years. Although they have moved to different cities and pursued different careers, they use these annual trips to reconnect and update their understanding of each other as adults.

Staropoli lives in a small town and works as a freelance writer, while Ellie works in the healthcare sector in Boston. Because their schedules make in-person meetings difficult, they began their travel tradition when they were 18 years old following high school. Over the years, they have visited various locations including England, Iceland, and Olympic National Park in the United States. The trips allow the friends to develop shared rituals and discover new habits.

They have established specific customs, such as finding a Thai restaurant at the end of a trip or ending the night with ice cream. Staropoli says these experiences provide a space to talk without daily interruptions and share a sense of humor rooted in their shared history.