One of the things Jeff and I truly enjoy is planning short getaways together. That said, when I talk about our "weekends," I'm not referring to Saturdays and Sundays like most people. With our non-traditional schedules, our weekend typically falls early in the week—and even then, it's not always easy to align our time off.
I work Wednesdays through Sundays during the day, while Jeff works overnight shifts from Thursday evening through Monday morning. Most of the time, we make it work. While Jeff sleeps during the day, I’m able to work remotely in a quiet house. But when it comes to planning a getaway, the logistics become a bit more complicated.
We can’t simply finish work on Sunday and head out for a couple of days like many couples do. Jeff is usually getting up and preparing for work just as I’m finishing my day. That means we can’t hit the road until Monday morning—after he gets off work—leaving us with only Monday afternoon and evening at our destination before we need to return on Tuesday. I have to be ready to start work again on Wednesday morning, while Jeff still has another full day off before his next shift begins.
It’s a tight window, and unless we plan for a destination within day-trip distance or I take time off, we’re often left with very limited options. Occasionally, Jeff can arrange to take Sunday night off, which allows us to leave Sunday afternoon after I’m done with work—but that’s not always feasible given the demands of his job.
Looking ahead, I do hope that one day we’ll have more flexibility. Ideally, that will come when Jeff is able to transition into a less physically demanding role—or when retirement enters the picture. Until then, we’ll continue to make the most of our limited time together and squeeze in whatever adventures we can, even if they’re short and sweet.
The challenges don’t stop with travel plans. Holidays bring their own set of complications. While my remote job allows me to work from virtually anywhere with a solid internet connection, Jeff’s work is strictly on-site—and even more demanding during the holiday season. Every year, the only other person on his shift takes the final two to three weeks of December off, leaving Jeff to cover both schedules for more than 21 days straight. It’s a heavy load, and it often means sacrificing family time.
To his credit, Jeff has spoken up in recent years, and small improvements are happening—other team members have begun to step in and help cover a few of those overnight shifts. Still, more needs to be done to create a fair and sustainable balance, especially during the holidays when time with loved ones matters most.
Until then, we’ll continue to adapt, plan creatively, and hold onto the hope that more flexibility is on the horizon. After all, making meaningful memories—no matter how brief—makes the effort worthwhile.
