Steve and I have a pretty equal relationship. We both play support roles to each other in specific situations. When it comes to technology, Steve has my back and makes sure I’m downloaded, updated, and connected at any given time. He’s also the “laundry boy” when he’s at home. Mostly, I’m in charge of cooking, and major cleaning. When I tag along on Steve’s business travel, I seem to add the roles of personal assistant and concierge.
Business Travel Support Role
I take on this support role because while I am most often also working during Steve’s trips, I have more flexibility regarding how I spend my time. Business travel is stressful. One of the reasons Steve likes when I tag along is because he doesn’t have to worry about the stuff he has to do when I’m not there.
Meals
Finding healthy, delicious places to eat is not always easy when travelling on business. I’ll often do the ground work of figuring out what’s close by to where we’re staying and read reviews to see if they’re worth checking out.
If we’re staying in an Airbnb, I plan the meals, grocery shop and cook. If Steve’s business includes dinner plans that include me, I show up, use my best table manners, and try to be entertaining.
Laundry
I hate doing laundry. Sorting never seems to work out evenly and folding stuff is boring. However, when we’re on the road, I am in charge of hand or machine washing to make sure we have clean underwear and socks.
Sight-Seeing
When Steve is travelling for work, he often doesn’t have time to research things to do in his off time—or he doesn’t bother to take any time off opting to sit in his hotel room answering email.
I scouted the fabulous interactive theatre experience Alice’s Adventures Underground in London.
When I’m along, I plan stuff for us to do. I figure out how to get where we’re going and buy tickets in advance if that’s required. Sometimes I’ll stumble across things to do if I’m out and about on my own.
I also discovered the super fun House of Bols tour on an Amsterdam tag-along trip.
Having downtime planned means Steve is more likely to decompress from the day’s work.
Emergency Measures
There have been a few times that I’ve helped Steve out in a pinch. I once ran (ran!) from our Airbnb rental through throngs of tourists across Tower Bridge in London to deliver printed materials he forgot and needed for a training class he was running. An aside: Generally, tourists are oblivious to anyone trying to get by on a crowded thoroughfare.
Social Support
I’m not sure that it’s true, but Steve says that having me at work-related social events on the road enhances the positive impression he strives to make. I know what he means. We are both more on the introverted side so having someone with you to keep conversations going can be helpful.
Sober Second Thought On Shoe Purchases
Regular readers know that Steve has a shoe obsession. Besides tech purchases, footwear is a definite weak spot when it comes to any hope of us fully embracing a minimalist lifestyle. Business travel destinations bring with them many new shoe-buying opportunities (Amsterdam — you are the worst!). So, when I tag along, I am the voice of reason. That’s my chosen moniker. Steve calls me “the denier.”
Over to you: Does your role change when you tag along on business travel? If you’re the one on business, how does having your spouse with you help?
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