On average I'm away from home 8-10 days a month for work (which is a lot less than my old schedule which was 16-18 days a month).
Often times people will ask me questions like, "how do you do it?!", "don't you miss your husband?", "does your husband mind you being gone that much?"
Yes of course we miss each other. But we're used to it and we don't mind it.
If fact, as I was sitting in my hotel suite (Thanks Starwood for the upgrade!) last night, I was thinking of all the things I like about being away on a business trip...
- Free food! And no cooking or doing dishes.
- In fact, no chores at all. I come home to spotless hotel room every night.
- Being able to catch up on my "chick" TV shows like Grey's Anatomy (PS - what was with that singing episode?).
- Sleeping in a king size bed all by myself (yes, we share a queen size bed at home).
- Being able to sleep through the night without an adorable cat jumping on me.
- Not feeling like I have to do anything besides work hard and relax (no bill paying, crafty projects, or home organizational tasks can nag me while I'm on the road).
- Coming home to a happy husband and happy cat who missed me. Absence often does make the heart grow fonder.
Just for fun, here are a couple of pictures from my business trips...
Spending my 27th birthday out to dinner with my co-workers:
My co-worker and me in a client's office "matching" in pastels:
Am I going to travel for work forever? No. I know there is an expiration date on this life. Not tomorrow, but in two years, or five years, or eight years this will all be over. And I know part of me will be very happy but part of me will miss it.
Do any of you travel for work? Have spouses that travel for work? How do you feel about business travel?
------------------------
Also reminder about the great giveaway going on on my reviews and giveaways blog. All you have to do is read about the new Seattle's Best Coffee Levels and then leave me a comment about which one you think you are and you could win $100 gift card for Amazon.com. Go enter now here!
17 comments:
I travel for work a lot and I personally hate it--but, that's beacause my company is super cheap and I stay in janky hotels and usually share a room--which, ok, I'm not 16, this isn't camp, I want my own space! I could pay for my own room, but, that would be my out of pocket and just, noooo.
Although, on the rare times I've had my own room, I have enjoyed it--it's nice to have a big bed, room service and chick shows on TV!
I don't travel for work and would not want to. Every now and then is okay but it's really hard to have a life when you're on the road all the time.
It's hard to maintain friendships, etc.
BTW - You look GREAT!
I travel a lot for work. I'm lucky that like you I'm able to stay in nice hotels & eat free food.
That being said, I've been traveling for work almost 10 years now (with a short break of a year & a half with a non-traveling job). I'm a little over the travel because there are so many things that I miss out on during the time I'm gone. I do like coming home to a hubby that missed me, but I dislike missing out on other things.
I think I've managed it really well all these years but honestly, I get tired because I'm always on the go - making up for the time I'm not here.
I'm with you, I'll probably miss it a bit when I'm not doing it as often, but I think the "not traveling" will outweigh the "travel time".
I never thought about those benefits. I kind of want a job that might have some traveling involved, but I don't see that in the near future. But if the opportunity appears, I'll definitely jump on it. Because it sounds like fun!
I am right there on the "not traveling" too much anymore.
I'm on the road no more than 10 days every two months. It is nice, but there are a few things we miss.
As you said, my husband and I are used to it. There were times in the past that we met in airports and came back home together, or we stayed some nice place for the weekend, away from home, because we were out of the city all week, and we stayed at nice hotels for the weekend just because ....
Right now, I'm traveling less and he is traveling overseas every two months..... It is nice to be home with my husband after the past few years with both of us on the road.
But, I miss the "no chores"....
I don't mind deployments (military traveling ha) I get a little jealous of my husband because i'm the one who LOVES to travel and he doesn't really care. And he's the who deploys ha. I agree though I love having a bed to myself :] And the extra money is always a nice perk!
I travel too! I do enjoy it for all the same reasons you listed above. However I will not do the coast to coast thing anymore. After spending several years crossing 3 time zones on a weekly basis, my body is not happy. For now, I'm happily traveling on the west coast :)
definitely prefer to be the one on a trip, but with my work, that rarely happens. Husband however is on the traveling 16-18 days/month schedule. We did get used to it but I'm not a fan - especially now that we moved and I haven't yet found people to hang out with in the evenings. It gets boring and lonely to go home alone at night and have to deal with all the chores you get to ignore when you are on the road! It also is really hard to plan anything. It really sucks when special occasions fall during the week, like my birthday or our anniversary (the case this year... sad that I might spend my 30th birthday alone).
Plus it's really hard to think about having kids with this schedule. I would keep working, which means I'd basically be a single working mom during the week - do NOT want that. We're hoping his travel obligations are reduced somewhat in the next few months.... that said, I'm pretty sure he enjoys the same perks you mentioned, and it is nice getting vacations out of the miles and hotel points.
I enjoy travelling for lots of the same reasons you do and really enjoy it. I don't travel as much as I used to when I was a tradeshow manager, so now I jump at the chance to get out of the office! Going new places, enjoying fabulous hotels and cuisine via work is probably the reason I've grown to have expensive taste when it comes to travelling!
My husband doesn't travel for work and misses me like crazy when I'm gone. He gives me the pouty lip and says "You leaving me baby?" Gets me everytime!
P.S. love that top on you!! I need one in every color...great for spring/summer.
I used to travel a lot (!) for a previous job and am pretty happy not to have to do it now. I would in fact miss being with The Mr every day (we are fortunate to work for the same company, we are able to commute to work together and have lunch every day - fun!) and I did get tired of being on the road.
I think travel for work is different for each person and different at various points in ones life. Glad you enjoy it!
We lead such different lives! I kind of envy your job, I think it'd be fun to travel that much. I'm sure it's difficult in some ways, but like you pointed out, there are many perks!
I only travel for work a few times a year, but I wish I did it more often.
My Daddy traveled pretty much Monday - Friday my entire life, and my parents have the most amazing marriage ever. I think there is something to be said for missing and appreciating each other.
I don't travel for work and I think that is a good thing. I would miss my husband too much-we are still the couple that does everything together. I could get used to coming home to a clean hotel room though and free food. That sounds nice!
Hi there,
I do not travel for work, however my husband is gone atleast one night a week, sometimes two. Although I don't like having him away (I am a worrier), I do enjoy having quiet time at home (no kids yet) and catching up on my DVR list (Greys, Private Practice, and other guilty pleasures) that my husband would rather not watch with me. And like you, we enjoy the flight credits and credit card points!
I've traveled for work a few times and it was always so much fun! I think it's great that you've embraced it!
Obviously I travel for work since we work for the same company and met on a traveling project, years ago :)
I got really spoiled the last year when I was only traveling 10 days per month. Now I am under a month in to 16 - 18 days on the road again, and its tough, especially as a newlywed (just hit our 6 month anniversary!).
But I do love the frequent flier miles and hotel points - that is how I got our 2 week honeymoon in Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket and Bangkok for free :)
Sounds like you have a great time and enjoy the benefits which is wonderful!
I think that would be wonderful to travel for work sometimes! The perks seem so nice! My husband will get to travel a little for work so I'm looking forward to taking the same amount of time off on occasion to go with him.
Post a Comment