Work Travel
Three months or so, I traveled for work for the first time. It was exciting and I looked forward to the per diem and visiting friends and family who I rarely get to see throughout the year. Everything was new, from the work and environment including the restaurants. I was even ecstatic to collect all those loyalty points from airlines, car rentals, and hotels.
After those three months, I have new found respect for those who travel for work constantly. While the per diem is nice, I have found myself wanting a home cooked meal; it's even come to the point where I want a lighter meal and almost resorted to getting a salad for dinner. Meals at restaurants are usually heavy and how can I resist from getting dessert (mostly anything with ice cream)?! I've become a connoisseur of cookie pie and brownie sundaes.
The worst part about long term traveling for work is relationships. My relationships in Fort Wayne basically freeze as I'm only there every other weekend. And friends and family around my hotel are beyond the sweet spot distance for being close and convenient to friends (15-20 minutes). So it seems that most of my relationships have froze. I honestly don't know how some people do this for years, it's exhausting and extremely lonely at times (thankfully I have coworkers in the same boat that ease the trips).
Keeping a work-life balance is nearly impossible and maintaining any relationship seems to take a tremendously more time than if I were at home. In some sort of sick way, it makes you look at priorities in life.
I've been essentially 100% travel for work and Google has even recognized my "Home for Travel".
I'm not sure what to think about calling a hotel "home"...