How much do you/your spouse travel for business?

[KelNottAt]

My DH travels a lot for work. He’s self-employed so he has to go where the job is. Right now he’s in the middle of a bunch of out-of-town work. There are 56 days between President’s Weekend and Easter – he’s out of town for 40 of them this year.

On average, I’d say he travels about 100 - 120 days per year (but this year is already starting out busier). That's no big deal when it's 10 days per month, but this stretch is starting to make me tired.

It’s been like this for our entire marriage (16 years), so I’m quite used to it. I’ve got it down to a science in keeping the kids and the household running smoothly. (I have the utmost respect for military spouses and single parents. You beat me by a landslide.)

I, on the other hand, usually go away for work about 3 or 4 days per year.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m not asking for a pity party. I’m just curious how much business travel other families experience. (I would have posted a poll, but there are too many variables to include.)

Cheers,

 

[Bob Slydell]

When we first got married, I was travelling a lot -- not long stretches of time, more like a week or two every couple months, but they were all international trips, like to Tokyo, Singapore or South America. Fortunately, the travel stopped right around the same time our first son was born (for unrelated reasons).

DW does some travel, but a lot of it is in the general area and the trips that are out of town tend to be 1-2 day trips and not lengthy ones. So overall, we're both usually in town.

 

[jimmalru80]

I have been in the same job now for 21 years plus and I have only spent one night away from home on business. I admire those who travel quite a bit for their career, but there is no way I'd do it.

 

[Freyja]

This year DH has only been away for 5 days. However last year and the year before that, he had to travel abroad almost once every month for a duration from 3-7 days.

I travel approx. 3 weeks each year due to business.

 

[caitycaity]

dh is gone 3-4 times/year, usually for 3-5 days at a time.

i travel for work probably 10-15 times/year, but they are usually only 2-3 day trips.

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

My DH is self employeed also as a consultant and spends a great deal of time out of town. He will be gone usually 2 weeks, home for 4-5 days then out again for 2 weeks. He's been doing this for a little over a year and it has gotten tiresome. I love having him here with me and miss him horribly. He's in the final interview for an executive position 20 minutes from our home... . We're expecting an offer any day. Keep your fingers crossed because I want my hubby home with me.

 

[powellrj]

I am the one who travels in our family. I am usually gone at least 2 nights per month. It would be easier for me if I were gone more, but its easier on my family if I just drive back and forth instead of spending the night. I spent almost 2 weeks out in Jan, but only 2 nights in feb and march.

 

[DMickey28]

My DH is in sales. The first two months of the quarter he can be gone anywhere from 2-4 nights two times a month to four times a month for those two months. Then the third month he is usually only gone 2-4 nights once or twice. We have been married a year and half and I am used to it. I can handle the trips every other week, but we don't have any kids.

There are a few times when he will be gone back to back to back then it takes him a week recover! When he is out on the road he works at least 70 hours a week.

 

[Disney Doll]

He goes maybe twice a year and sometimes I can go with him.

I go once a year to a computer convention in Boston.

 

[lbgraves]

DH is gone 40-50% of the time with his regular government job. When he is in town he goes to work at 5 am & gets home between 5 & 7. He works on his laptop & goes into the office some Saturdays. Right now he is in the middle of a 3 1/2 month internship with the NSTB in DC. I just found out he has another 30 day rotation to do. DD is having a terrible time of it...which hasn't made it easy for me. I will be glad when life is back to "normal."

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

At this point hubby is gone nearly 100% of the time. He can fly home once a month and we can visit whenever we like. For financial reasons we opt to do this. We are not prohibited from joining him.

We will be joining him for the summer.

The longest stretch was 6 weeks apart.

 

[SC Minnie]

DH doesn't travel with his job but I have to travel several times a year no more than 2-3 days at the time. Really not that bad.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I am the one that travels for business. I am usually gone 5 to 7 days a month - sometimes more, sometimes less but that is a good average. DH works as a firefighter and is gone for 10 to 11 shifts (24 hours) each month.

I have been traveling for about 4 1/2 years and usually love my job but the travel has been wearing on me lately. The longest stretch I have ever been gone is 2 weeks and I have done those about once a year.

My kids are used to me being out of town and I have been lucky that I havent missed too many school events due to travel. DH has missed many more than I have with his job since the Fire Dept is not very flexible in giving him time off for the kids concerts and such.

I did just find out that oldest DDs Spring Strings concert is on the same day as the Awards show I have to attend in Vegas. I would MUCH rather see her concert but there is no way I can get out of the biz trip.

 

[mickeyboat]

Neither one of us travel for work. I have taken several of solo trips (one to France, one to Minnesota, one to NC) which have left DH alone with the kids, but I think it's good for him, and they are no worse for it.

Denae

 

[grinningghost]

My DH is gone at least 4 days per week. He's a railroad conductor and traveling is his job. I'm a railroad widow, but I deal with it.

 

[SleepyMom]

For the entire time DH and I dated I only saw him on weekends because of his work. Once we were married he was able to be home a bit more but not much, he averaged being gone M-F probably about 45 weeks a year. That continued until about our 4th anniversary when he took another job to get off the road.

About 8 years ago he went back to that job, but thankfully the travel has gone way down! Sometimes he'll be home for months at a time He does have a long detail coming up later this year though... 2 1/2 months he'll be gone. We are hoping he can get home maybe every other weekend.

I do not travel for my work because I do at home day-care... although the family is going to WDW at the end of the year. Maybe I could go along

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Not at all. DH works a lot of hours and gets a lot of opportunity for overtime but he doesn't have to travel anywhere. I have my own business and go to grad school so I dont have to travel either!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Right now DH is out of town about 8 weeks a year. Each time he flies, usually internationally. Twice in the last year he's gone to China. Because of the flying internationally and all the fear of terrorism, I get rather nervous. But it's not as bad as it was-for many years he traveled almost 50% of the time, and that was when the kids were young. So now, although I get a little fearful of the flying and health sometimes, it isn't so bad. And since most of the frequent flier miles fund my WDW trips, how much can I mind?

 

[rt2dz]

DH just took a new job and is traveling a lot; like 3-4 days per week. He left today (yes, on a Saturday) at 1 pm and won't be back till late Wednesday night. It doesn't really bother me, things run smoother with the kids (5, 2, 6 months)., except this trip is to WDW!!

 

[ducklite]

My husband spends about half the month in NJ and the other half here in FL. In all honesty, it's not such a bad deal. We don't have little ones though, I think that would make a big difference.

I travel overnight once a month or so on business.

Anne