For about the past decade, my husband Steve has travelled extensively for his work as an IT consultant and trainer. Destinations have included the glamorous (Abu Dhabi, Zurich, New York City) and the more obscure (Moline, Illinois; Monett, Missouri).

Being self-employed and often able to work remotely, I have been able to tag along on a number of Steve’s trips. The fact that Steve can book his own corporate flights using our rewards credit card also means we have a healthy number of points in addition to Aeroplan miles. Add to these advantages the fact that we don’t have kids and it was inevitable that travel became a huge passion of ours. We travel every chance we get.

But tagging along isn’t always possible. There are times during big projects when I need to be available to my clients in person. Family and other personal commitments also sometimes mean that taking flight is not possible. This has meant periods of extensive time apart.

So, more often than not, having a travelling spouse feels like a fun all-inclusive, but it’s not always a passport to fun and adventure (I’m a sucker for word humour, get used to it). Here’s my list of pros and cons:

Pros

  • I can’t remember the last time I bought a bar of soap. In fact, I’ve become a bit of a hoarder of the amenities that we acquire from hotel rooms and business class flights.
  • Having access to Star Alliance airport lounges across the globe rocks. Steve’s Air Canada Elite status means complimentary access to the serenity, free snacks and alcohol when I travel with him. Very civilized.
  • When Steve’s away, I can cook things for dinner that he’ll never eat, watch movies he wouldn’t tolerate, and play my Earth Wind & Fire albums (don’t judge) without interrupting the playlist with something he’d like to listen to (some indie band featuring a wispy-voiced female singer).
  • When I travel with Steve on business, he’s not always available to do touristy things when I am. This gives me the freedom to explore what I’d like to see and do on my own.

Cons

  • It can get lonely. Steve was once on an 8-week engagement in a small U.S. city. He flew home each weekend, but his connection through Chicago (don’t get me started on O’Hare Airport) inevitably got screwed up and he would not get home until very late Friday or even Saturday. Horrible for both of us.
  • When you have a travelling spouse, you have a semi-single lifestyle. If I were single, I’d probably be better at nurturing friendships with other single women. Most of our friends are couple friends. When Steve’s away, I hesitate to connect with my single friends because I worry they’ll think I’m just doing so because my first choice companion (Steve) is away.
  • When I travel with Steve on business, he’s not always available to do touristy things when I am. This means that I have to sightsee on my own, get lost and find my way back to our room on my own, eat alone, take photos on my own. You get the idea.

Are you the significant other of a business traveller? What are some of your pros and cons?

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