I’m a firm believer that there are some people in this world you’re simply destined to meet and have in your life forever. For me, one of those people is my sorority-Little-turned-soul-sister, Lisa.
After bonding over many things during recruitment sophomore year — including our shared love for Blink-182 and punk rock — we both unknowingly wrote down on the get-to-know-you quizzes for the committee that we hoped to be paired as Big and Little sisters.
We were, and the rest is history. Our college days were constantly filled with plans together, and by graduation, we couldn’t imagine embarking on this next phase of adulthood with over 180 miles between us.
She’s from the Boston area, while I’m from Connecticut and moved to New York City right after college. So, we agreed to prioritize our friendship and made a pact to spend time together in person every year.
Since graduating in 2015, we’ve planned a getaway together every summer.
Our trips haven’t always looked the same, but they have some constants
Alexa Mellardo
Right out of college, Lisa and I looked forward to a few sun-drenched days spent catching up on Long Beach Island, New Jersey.
From the Victoria Guest House to the Engleside Inn, we’d book a charming yet affordable place steps away from the beach to spend long days working on our tans, cranking up the tunes, and sipping spiked seltzers.
At night, we’d head out for bar hopping and dancing to live music until the wee hours of the morning. The next day, we would rinse and repeat.
We initially chose the Jersey Shore because it’s an easy ride to perfect summer weather and beautiful beaches. It became our go-to place, though we now switch up locations every now and then.
Alexa Mellardo
Fast-forward to more than a decade after graduating from college, and our summer tradition is still going strong — but it looks quite different.
For this year’s getaway, we stayed in a charming room at Greydon House in downtown Nantucket, Massachusetts. (We’ve always taken the aesthetics of our accommodations seriously and became obsessed with B&Bs and boutique hotels early on.)
We brunched at Lemon Press, popped into all of the boutiques (and shopped for Lisa’s little ones), enjoyed early afternoon cocktails at CRU (the restaurant’s signature Crucomber cocktail was a must), pedaled our beach cruisers past the hydrangea-lined shingled homes, and relaxed at the beach while we gabbed and reminisced.
Although we’re no longer partying like it’s 2015, we’ve come to genuinely enjoy an early dinner reservation at an aesthetically pleasing restaurant, plus after-dinner cocktails. A perfect night usually includes slipping into our PJs and streaming a chick flick.
We’re also more organized these days, sticking to a well-planned itinerary to ensure our experience is top-notch.
In fact, we both watched “Five Star Weekend” before heading to Nantucket and knew we absolutely had to grab morning buns from Wicked Island Bakery. (If you know, you know!)
Above all, we don’t let life get in the way of our friendship or summer tradition
Alexa Mellardo
Our lives look very different now that we’re in our 30s. Lisa married her high-school sweetheart and is a mom of two, while my husband and I recently purchased our first home and have been tackling countless renovation projects in between doing lots of travel.
It takes true commitment from Lisa and me to carve out time for our tradition amid this hectic stage of adulthood — and it’s always well worth it.
We know the importance of prioritizing our time together and start planning our trip in the early spring so we can block off a time that works for both of us in the summer.
Alexa Mellardo
While, like fine wine, our getaways have improved in the best way, one thing has always remained the same: We still talk, let our hair down, and laugh until our sides hurt from start to finish.
There’s rarely a moment of silence, and when there is, it feels completely natural.
We can go weeks or even months without gabbing and somehow always pick up where we left off. We listen, give advice, and discuss what we both have planned in the near and distant future. We celebrate each other’s successes and offer endless support.
Our friendship has grown with us and is incredibly strong; it’s exactly what a best friendship should be. Of course, our summer tradition is here to stay.
