The Enduring Bond of an Annual Girls Trip: Friendship, Time, and Shared Memories

A personal essay in Vogue reflects on the tradition of an annual vacation among six women who have been friends since childhood. The author recounts a recent trip to Madrid, where they sang along to Meredith Brooks's 'Bitch' at a music bar, and details the history of their yearly gatherings, which began in their mid-20s with a trip to the south of France. Despite rain, they danced and smoked, establishing an unspoken commitment to meet annually. Over the years, they have traveled to Bucharest, Rome, the Baltic Sea, Croatia, and Mallorca, navigating life changes such as babies and marriages. The essay cites a study from Quarks magazine stating that people have on average 3.7 close friends, and another from the University of Kansas by researcher Jeffrey Hall, which quantifies the hours needed to form friendships: 40-60 for casual, up to 100 for close, and over 200 for best friendships. The author notes that her friend F. from kindergarten has been a friend for 30 years. The group's bond is characterized by brutal honesty and a shared space exclusive of partners. The essay highlights key moments: administering a hormone injection at an airport, crying at a friend's wedding, and supporting each other through grief. The tradition of the annual trip reinforces their bond, which requires work to maintain.