It’s been interesting to read all the different experiences- also because one of the early contributors actually was someone I met on my first camino, Del Norte in May in 2018.
I usually describe two kinds of Camino relations…
1. The ones you meet and almost instantly decide that you want to get to know each other, beyond the current situation, and you either decide to walk together or agree to meet again.
The relation can be more or less regular and can both imply becoming travel companions or merely witnesses to each other’s journey.
Anyhow it implies some kind of compromise, which you choose in order to keep/create the relation.
2. Is the people you somehow just meet on a regular basis and the relationship just evolve from walking the same pace or distances. Some of those could eventual end up belonging to the first group, SOMETIMES because of a cautious choice…
I have experienced both in different variations on my now 6 caminos. I am very extrovert, but in reality I am also an individualist, so naturally I like to find my personal pace… I have learned a lot from all situations - one camino I started with a small group but ended up walking alone.
The coming July I am going to walk 4 days with a pilgrim I met in 2019 - and the last 13 with a pilgrim I met briefly in 2021… I hope to learn and also how to compromise without loosing myself
Buen camino