Does anyone live in one city but work in another, far away city?

[Anonymous]

Blah military life - DH and I are going to have to separate or I am going to have to quit my job. I have a some flex built into my schedule though, including two telework days and AWS with every other day off. Could I relocate with DH and DS (pre-schooler), and then travel back to DC for part of the week? So, I'd work in DC M,T,W and be in the new city Th,Fr,Sat,Sun...and on the AWS weeks I'd work in DC M,T and be in the new city Wed,Th,Fr,Sat,Sun? Is this at all feasible? I don't know where I'll be commuting from, but probably TX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blah military life - DH and I are going to have to separate or I am going to have to quit my job. I have a some flex built into my schedule though, including two telework days and AWS with every other day off. Could I relocate with DH and DS (pre-schooler), and then travel back to DC for part of the week? So, I'd work in DC M,T,W and be in the new city Th,Fr,Sat,Sun...and on the AWS weeks I'd work in DC M,T and be in the new city Wed,Th,Fr,Sat,Sun? Is this at all feasible? I don't know where I'll be commuting from, but probably TX.

Sorry I meant one day off every other week.

[Anonymous]

I would negotiate working in DC m-f one week and full telework the next.

Can you afford it? Many consultants travel every week for work so it's doable if you have the right support in place.

[Anonymous]

M-W away isn't bad. It probably really comes down to $ - can you afford the airfare and a place to sleep? Rent a place? Buy a condo? Hotels and AirBNB would get pretty old fast.

[Anonymous]

This guy does:
https://vimeo.com/105646287

[Anonymous]

I do this. I live in DC and work on the west coast.

I work from DC 2 weeks and then do 1 week onsite. It's not easy - but certainly manageable. Something like TX to DC sounds quite doable (I have a 6 hour flight - yours would be half that).

[Anonymous]

yes i did for a couple years. Lived in DC and workied on NYC (weekly commute)

[Anonymous]

I once sat next to a guy on a plane who had that type of life. He worked in Dallas Monday - Thursday, 10 hour days or more. Flew home Thursday night, flew back Sunday night.

[Anonymous]

Can you afford all the flights? If he is close to retirement and you plan to remain here I would do it, otherwise no. We did a split for two years/no kids with the military cross-country and only ended up seeing each other every few months. It was very hard. I would not do it with a child. He ended up back here and we needed my income till he got another job.

My husband does a one week trip once or twice a month and its wearing on him. Our children are older so its easier on them but its hard on both of us. He's upset over everything he misses and likes to be active Dad. Its a bunch of bad choices.

[Anonymous]

Coworker lived in TX, worked here. He flew in early Monday morning, worked here until Thursday mid-day, flew back to TX Thursday afternoon, and worked from home on Friday. Some adjustment needed for major meetings or other events, but that was the normal schedule.

He had an apartment and car here. You would have to consider the expenses (airfare, hotel or apartment, possibly an extra car, more eating out, probably more childcare back home) vs quitting your job and finding something else (presumably lower-paying) in the new city.

[Anonymous]

Can you work on the plane?

[Anonymous]

Why not ask current employer if you can be 100% telework, and maybe fly back for important briefings/meetings?

[Anonymous]

Very doable from a family life/relationship aspect. (I am away Sunday to Thursday night every week as a Consultant.)

However, as other PPs pointed out, if your travel and additional living arrangements will not be funded by your company, that will be a huge expense. So you'll need to make sure you can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Man, this would suck but it can be done. My DH is currently in DC about 50% of weekdays; in NC with us the rest. It's working out okay for the moment but the longterm plan is to dial it back to one week a month, then to hopefully just a few days a month. solo parenting gets old. and might be tougher for your DH if he is military (long days, deployments, unpredictability, etc).

factor in your living/travel expenses and extra childcare expenses too if that's an issue.

[Anonymous]

I live in NYC and work full time in DC. I catch 8pm Amtrak Sunday night and 12 noon Amtrak Friday afternoon. If I buy a few weeks ahead $49 regional and $124 for Acela.

I own a house now by work so in summer or school breaks family can stay over.