Every summer during college, my friends would take a weekend trip.

Every summer during college, my friends would take a weekend trip.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

It’s a waterside city, 1 1/2 hours outside our hometown of Chicago.

The trips were what you’d expect of college kids.

Boating.

Girls.

Parties.

We made long-lasting memories.

But after college, things changed.

We got jobs.

Friends moved.

Interests changed.

With that, our trips to Lake Geneva faded.

A few months ago, I received a group text.

One of my friends suggested a Lake Geneva reunion.

It had been 20 years.

I thought the idea was great.

Everyone was excited.

We began researching accommodations and activities.

I found a beautiful hotel in the heart of Lake Geneva.

A luxury boat for rent.

Even a lakeside mansion converted into a high-end steakhouse.

I shared my findings in the group chat.

But some of the others didn’t share my vision.

Instead, my phone lit up with other suggestions.

A dated 1980s Airbnb outside the downtown.

A boat on Delavan Lake (20 minutes from Lake Geneva).

A pizza place for dinner.

I was disappointed.

I was all about reliving old memories.

But I hadn’t envisioned returning like the broke college kids we were 20 years earlier.

I pushed back.

I wasn’t making headway.

But then I realized it wasn’t about what or where.

The purpose was to come together and regenerate friendships.

Step outside our day-to-day lives.

Appreciate our different but parallel journeys.

I took my planner hat off and let them take over.

Fast forward.

The trip was a success.

The weather was perfect for boating.

We spent so little time in the Airbnb; no one cared how it looked.

And we laughed so much at dinner that I can’t recall if the pizza was good.

We’re already making plans for next year.

The experience was a great reminder.

It’s not where you go. It’s who you’re with.