Can You Go Home Again?

Jeremy, I've always taken the approach that this lifestyle of mine is more difficult on the people I leave at home than it is for me. That's why I gave this previous advice...

Yep, I kinda get it now, Old School. It's just taken a little time for me to process. Actually, I'm out here living the life, seeing the sites, and learning new things everyday. And I suppose her change in things isn't quite as exciting or adventurous as mine. So, I understand and appreciate your advice a little more today. It's just a process I'm trying to work through.

I would never have guessed that there would be something akin to growing pains at age 44. Well, growing old pains, maybe, lol. But I guess we really don't ever stop learning, eh?

Thanks again, Old School!

I can’t explain the difference, but I went home recently after 14 mos. away, and while walking down the sidewalk with my wife, later in the first day back, holding her hand, it felt so comfortable, as if I’d never left.

From the first day I thought about trucking, I started talking with my wife about this. Everything I learned about trucking was discussed with her. We talk every day. The first time home, I told her I felt like I was a guest in my own home. I was asking her what was OK to eat and stuff like that. Now, it's back to normal when I'm home.

From the first day I thought about trucking, I started talking with my wife about this. Everything I learned about trucking was discussed with her. We talk every day. The first time home, I told her I felt like I was a guest in my own home. I was asking her what was OK to eat and stuff like that. Now, it's back to normal when I'm home.

Really hope I find that normalcy again at some point. I just have to get used to things being different for both her and me before that can happen. So many things they just don't teach ya in school, lol.

Can you go home again? Well sometimes you may not even have a home to go home to haha!

If you will indulge me a few minutes, I'll explain how starting a trucking career completely changed not only how I feel at home, but also changed my home itself.

I bought some property back in 1999, and put a house on it. Over the years I've built additions to it, added outbuildings and such, creating a nice environment to raise my family.

When I chose to go into the trucking business a couple of years ago, my son was grown and out on his own. I knew there would be many extended periods away from home, so decided to rent my house out to him at a heavily reduced rate, just to cover my costs basically. My wife and I stay in a travel camper out back when we come off the road for home time. She rides with me on the truck by the way, so the truck is for the most part our home now.

So since we've been on the road, my son and daughter-in-law have given me a granddaughter and a new grandson is now on the way.

So yes, walking into my house now gives me a whole new feeling. I know exactly how you feel Jeremy, even though in my case I actually am walking into someone else's home, albeit temporarily.

But there's more...

After much reflection and discussion, my wife and I have chosen to let my son and his new family take over our house permanently. I'm going to build a new cabin further in the woods on the property for us to live out our remaining years, which is something we've kind of wanted to do all along.

So suddenly I'm giving up my house and will soon create a whole new home with much less maintenance and upkeep to worry about as I get older. My son and his young family get a head start on a home at a great price. Plus I get the benefit of watching my grandchildren grow up on the homestead just a few hundred yards away from me. It's a win-win. A little bittersweet perhaps, now that the house I built is no longer my home. But it's a means to an end.

I didn't intend to hijack your threat Jeremy. I'm just pointing out that there can be a silver lining to everything. This too can be a means to an end for you. Keep communicating and don't be afraid to explore the possibilities that may come from this. Good luck, friend.

Wow! That's an epic story, Turtle. Seems you traded home for a few blessings there. That's awesome! Not entirely sure I'll be that blessed, but who knows what may come. At this point I figure to just try adjusting, trying to keep things comfortable for her, and keeping my mind and eyes open for any good opportunities we can make of it.

Thanks much for the insight, Turtle!

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I owe all of you a huge debt of gratitude for helping me see this from more sides than just my own and forcing me to look at new ways of dealing with things rather than simply bemoaning the situation. My humble thanks to you all!

Well, trucker's wifey here. I am planning on starting a post in the women's section as well, been going through many different feelings, anxiety, you know all the lovely female things and trying to sort out who to talk to or who to share with. Being a brand new truckers wife, there are so many new everythings happening every day. There truly is no way to talk about everything and prepare for the life change before you leave. We had many talks, I completely knew that things were going to be dramatically different. I would become the new head of house hold, it would be my responsibility now to make sure all things were taken care of here so there is a home to come back to. I have waited patiently for the moment hubby came home, and even though it was very brief, my world felt complete again. Home was back. I try to imagine what you as truckers go through, your thoughts, feelings, everything, and I am at a loss. This forum though has been helping me understand even more though. Your new residence is the open road, but your home will always be where your family is. I can understand how it can feel like being a guest in your own home, cause as other's have mentioned, things are still going on here, changing, and happening, but I remind myself everyday, that these new things happening here are "normal" hubby is experiencing a whole new world of change and adjustments. I kind of have it easy! I feel as though I am all over the place with this post, one thing is for certain though, you will always have a home to come back to, and it will always be yours....together we will figure things out. Just taking it a moment at a time. Things may not get back to "normal" I believe we are finding our new "normal". Life is filled with roller coasters, your roads are filled with mountains to cross.....it's a heck of a ride either way. I am a very proud of my hubby, I know it is rough at times, and there are many more "adventures" ahead. I am excited, scared, anxious, all of the above about what may come next. One thing is for certain, as long as we keep on "truckin" we got this! <3 <3

Uh oh... Wifey found the forum.

Hi sweetie! I'll call ya in a few.

Uh oh... Wifey found the forum.

Hi sweetie! I'll call ya in a few.

Hahaha. My wife and family stalk the forums, too.

Jeremy