Business Travel Drawbacks

When I tell people I travel 50% for work I get 2 responses:

1. That must be really cool
2. That must really suck

The truth is that I can agree with both responses.  I enjoy going around the country and meeting new and interesting people.  I occasionally see and experience new and interesting sites.  I have days full of work activities that can extend through the evening eliminating any chance to get out and see the area.  And I am away from my family and miss important events in their lives.

I am able to schedule a majority of my travel around the most important family events.  The occasions that require my attendance I make sure that I am around.  But I miss mid-week birthdays and we push family birthday celebrations off to the weekend.  I miss soccer, baseball, basketball, rock-climbing, dance, and football practices for my children.

The biggest part of my life that I miss, is not being there for my wife.  We are both busy and we try to partner up on the work that needs to be done around the house.  I know when I am around, and I am helpful, she really appreciates me.  I am grateful that she does not get terribly upset with me for the lack of help I can provide when I am traveling.  I completely understand that when I am present and unhelpful she gets frustrated with me.  (I never help myself by trying to diffuse the situation with humor, someday I'll learn.)

I know quite a lot about how to travel efficiently.  I am continuing to learn how to be a productive family member while traveling all the time.

Driving in the USA

I hate to stereotype but I notice geographical driving habits. Some are quirky and some are quite obnoxious.  As a business traveler I am not solely relegated to flying.  I frequently rent cars and occasionally drive great distances for work and vacation.  Some people think I'm crazy because every year, at least once, I drive two days out and two days back from my in-law's property.  The craziness is that I have 3 young children.  They are great travelers and it's quite easy.  I wouldn't attempt it with other people's children.

 As a resident of any state I think it is normal to have some rivalry or animosity towards your neighboring state drivers.  I'm no different.  Illinois drivers drive fast and erratically.  They make lane changes like the cat that suddenly decides they don't like the room they are in and immediately dash to another room.  Minnesota drivers are probably my least favorite group.  They tend to camp out in the passing lane at a mere 5 MPH over the speed limit.  Having to pass a person on the right bugs me.

Other geographies have odd habits, too. 
Wisconsin drivers do a really weird thing when turning onto a busy boulevard.  When the first lane is clear, they'll drive out to the middle of the boulevard and wait for traffic to clear in the next lane.  I've seen Washington State drivers do the same with the center left turn lane on roadways.
 
In Pittsburgh, when the red light changes to green, the drivers in the left turn lane up front gun it to make their turn and beat the on coming traffic.  If the on coming traffic hesitates the second left turn car will try to gun it through, too. 

California drivers fly down the highways, city streets, parking lots, back alleys, everywhere.

Utah drivers are annoyingly polite.  I noticed they will slow down and let you make a lane change no matter where you are in relation to them.  I was being passed by a driver and I planned to pull behind them, so, I turned on my blinker.  The driver slowed way down and let me in front of them and subsequently passed me later.

I imagine the differences of driving habits internationally are vastly different, too.  I hear that traffic in Asian countries is a circus.  I am hoping to see that for myself soon.