Home Time, And The Need For Lots Of Curse-y Words.

Hi NaeNae,

I've only been on the road for 5 months but I've almost always traveled for work or with the military driving over 50,000 and staying hotels 3-5 days/wk every year. So, I'm familiar with the away time from home and completely relate to what you are sharing. It's sounds like you have competing priorities such as taking care of chores and spending time with family and friends. The social obligations can be the toughest priorities to deal with, at least for me. They place an enormous amount of pressure on me not to disappoint or offend anyone when all I want is some time to relax without having any "time" obligations which we as truck drivers deal with all day long every day of the week! Finding that ever so precious breathing space isn't always easy - probably never is.

For example, our annual family get-together is scheduled for this Sunday at 4 pm. While I'm looking forward to being with family, I kind of resent the late afternoon time slot on a Sunday because I'd rather be sitting at home in my swimming pool, fishing, or relaxing before my typical all-out effort work week on the road. Plus, I like to get to bed by 8 or 9. Attending this will have me wired all night. I probably won't sleep well at all. Also, there are certain "tasks" I don't looking forward to doing when I get home. In fact, I can downright resent some of these too. To compensate, I've outsourced some of those tasks such as mowing my 4 acres of grass and cleaning the barn - mowing grass is my least favorite activity on the planet and way to time consuming. The barn I can deal with but it is time consuming as well. So, outsourced it is as well. Paying someone to take care of things around the house when I'm gone can seem expensive. But it takes an enormous burden off of my shoulders and gives me just a enough of that breathing room you're talking about to make it worth every penny.

NaeNae, from my experience I'd say you're feelings are normal. Finding the right balance of what needs to be done and what to put-off until another day is almost certain to help you deal with your feelings. Also, maybe sharing with your family and friends what you've shared with us will too.

Best of luck with this and safe travels.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

It never fails. When I go home home to Montana, nothing ever goes right, I'm pulled in nine billion directions, never seem to get everything done, and always leave wondering why I even bothered going "home."

Please. Someone, anyone, I'm begging you, tell me that feeling like this is normal? It's getting to the point that I am dreading the trips home. 100 miles out and I was asking myself "Why?" As my phone is blowing up with "when are you getting here?" And the guilt trip from the parents who depend on others for everything technology related...

Totally relate. Just got done being relatively at home, told the now ex that I go to work to relax after exhausting home time.

It went over like a turd in a puchbowl. But it's the truth. I get tired of the litany of questions and accusations that I'm a bad guy for loving my career.

Onward and upward. Do what's right for you, unapologetically and embrace it.