A couple of the best friends I've ever made I met on long tours. If you meet someone on the road with a compatible or complementary traveling style, it can be an incredibly rewarding relationship.

I've toured with my spouse (or she's toured with me) on quite a few multi-month trips, and in some stressful foreign situations, and that has strengthened our 32-year marriage.

But I'm perfectly happy going alone for months at a time, too. I don't go looking for companionship, but when it happens, it can be wonderful.