How many people here either work out of town or are away from their families a lot?

[N-Flight]

I was just wondering how many of us in here are working out of town and away from our families? I live and work mon-Fri in pensacola, florida and come home on the weekends. It is very hard being away from my family so much.

[Augustus McRae]

Have done that in stretches over the years. Just a little of friendly (but damn good!) advice - chat on MH, read, work, exercise, eat good food! Being away from home can lead you to do stupid crap!

I was just wondering how many of us in here are working out of town and away from our families? I live and work mon-Fri in pensacola, florida and come home on the weekends. It is very hard being away from my family so much.

[Red]

Is it an option for your family to come down for visits?

[Maggie-Doodle]

My hubby used to be away sometimes for weeks at a time...it was VERY hard on me and my son. NOBODY ever got sick or NOTHING ever broke or went wrong until he was 3,000 miles away. I can't imagine having to live like that again...I cherish our time together now and would never wish that kind of life on anyone. In the long run it is not worth it to the family...the extra money was nice but in hindsight, the family time would have been better!

[N-Flight]

Is it an option for your family to come down for visits?

My family has come to visit me a couple of times. It worked out good after the hurricane because they got to come spend a week here. My son was still very young so it was good to benefit from having electricity here in pensacola. My wife works in Hattiesburg so she doesn't get to visit me much.

[Butterball]

No one gets sick.....breaks.........until he's 3000 miles away.............

Hmmmm, seems that way doesn't it? A call from home announcing a 'crisis' is probably the hardest thing to handle from a distance.....especially if you can't get back home quickly or not at all. I've always had the 'problem solver' title in the home (as well the head of the household should) but I've found that the internet, phones, and electronic fund transfers greatly assist in being able to handle such times compared to - say- even ten years ago.

Sure it's hard being away for two weeks or more, but when you can bring in 3 to 5 times as much in personal disposable income as working at home, the end justifies the means. I still have a hard time driving out of the driveway each time I leave. I do have you guys for information and entertainment while away .....dang, it's almost like being there! My significant others, though, have become so much more important to me & I try to show them all how much they are loved and cherished while I am home. The downside I see among those I worked with in similar situations comes when children are young, parents are old, or the relationship is not filled with trust. To some it's the only life.....to others, it's NO LIFE..........

[amanda]

As one who has a significant other who works away several weeks at a time - it a bit##!! I miss my partner in life when he is gone and it seems that time just DRAGS by while waiting for his return. What's the saying "Absence makes the Heart Grow Fonder". I guess it does because my heart just explodes when he drives back up and I see his smiling face. :)

[threekidspa]

I was just wondering how many of us in here are working out of town and away from our families? I live and work mon-Fri in pensacola, florida and come home on the weekends. It is very hard being away from my family so much.

I'm a defense contractor, and am fortunate enough to work for an outfit that lets me conduct my day-to-day work from my office at home. All of the people that work for me, as well as the agencies I have contracts with, are in San Diego, Washington DC or Colorado Springs, so I usually spend a week or so out of every month on the road.

Thank God for the internet, its the only thing that allows me to be around home as much as I am.

[Maggie-Doodle]

I've found that the internet, phones, and electronic fund transfers greatly assist in being able to handle such times compared to - say- even ten years ago.

Sure it's hard being away for two weeks or more, but when you can bring in 3 to 5 times as much in personal disposable income as working at home, the end justifies the means.

YEP, you are right about the internet & cell phones etc...I did not have that option twenty years ago...no matter what the problem I would have to wait to late at night to reach my husband..I knew he couldn't do anything about the situation being two or three thousand miles away but somehow, me just telling him about whatever the problem was seemed to make the problem not so overwhelming for me...I know it had to have ruined his trip but I am sure he would have been p.o.'ed had I not called to tell him about the problem.

YEP, the 3 to 5 times as much disposable income was really great but still in hindsight it WAS NOT WORTH WHAT OUR FAMILY LOST! IF I had it to do over again...I would say "to hell with the extra money, we will make it somehow." "money" is not everything when you loose the relationships with your family....you have lost everything! Some people are not as lucky as we were and NEVER get any closeness back!

[N-Flight]

No one gets sick.....breaks.........until he's 3000 miles away.............

Hmmmm, seems that way doesn't it? A call from home announcing a 'crisis' is probably the hardest thing to handle from a distance.....especially if you can't get back home quickly or not at all. I've always had the 'problem solver' title in the home (as well the head of the household should) but I've found that the internet, phones, and electronic fund transfers greatly assist in being able to handle such times compared to - say- even ten years ago.

Sure it's hard being away for two weeks or more, but when you can bring in 3 to 5 times as much in personal disposable income as working at home, the end justifies the means. I still have a hard time driving out of the driveway each time I leave. I do have you guys for information and entertainment while away .....dang, it's almost like being there! My significant others, though, have become so much more important to me & I try to show them all how much they are loved and cherished while I am home. The downside I see among those I worked with in similar situations comes when children are young, parents are old, or the relationship is not filled with trust. To some it's the only life.....to others, it's NO LIFE..........


For three years I lived out of motels to only get home maybe once a month. When I was home it was usually for only a couple of days and then back to work. The money was definitely good but I don't know if I could do it again. The job I have now is m-f so at least I do get home every weekend. I would love to find a job equivalent here at home but it seems I can't find one even close. It is tough for my wife because she has to deal with everything at home without my help.

[wilebill]

That and I don't get shot at much on a drilling rig compared to when I was in the military.LOL

Well then don't work on a rig near Nigeria. :smt103