Working Away from Home

Working away from home….sucks. This is my conclusion after much study and contemplation.

It’s not just the absence of all the amenities…although this does start to wear you down, but the fact that you are missing out on your life…completely. Unless, of course, you strongly identify yourself with your work….volunteer peace keeper in Iraq, or environmentalist living in a tree sort of thing. However, if you’re a regular Joe six-pack, who likes to putter around the house after a tiring day at the office, then a string of motel rooms and no real days off can get to you.

There is also the economy of the matter. If you live in a motel room, you tend to eat out more, raising the basic cost of living. Particularly if your average stay in any one motel is three nights. Moving constantly means eating conveniently, although not always healthily.

Not to mention the situation with your dog. Dogs are not welcome at most hotels, and whether or not your pet is accepted has very little to do with the scuziness factor of the motel in question…some very shady establishments will not take dogs. Crack whores yes…dogs no.

Oh, and I really noticed a trend that dog owners get thrown into smoking rooms, although I’ve actually never seen a dog hacking a butt in front of the TV.

Here is a brief summary of my last month:

4 nights in a nice Oceanside resort cabin with full kitchen and complementary bathrobes. Dog was not a problem. Had to move on due to higher costs associated with the coming of tourist season.

3 nights in sleazy motel in room that had a former chain smoking tenant. Hot plate, micro-wave, and fridge that froze everything and could not be adjusted. TV..No phone…one given on last day…microwave breaks…replaced. Dog okay, but $10 charge…waived by owner upon meeting dog. Moved on to take days off.

2 nights in older motel…dog loved…stove but no oven.

3 nights back in same sleazy motel as before, but in different room with only microwave and beer fridge. Evicted with very short notice due to previous booking by other parties. Had stripper living down the hall. Lucky to have brought own fork, opened dog food can with knife blade.

2 nights at same older motel that loves pets as before but moved to smoking room. Had to move on as on wrong side of a very early morning ferry ride. Also had to take partial day off to unload dog on friend, as no place taking dogs could be found at reasonable cost.

1 night couch surfing at friends place that was taking dog.

Drove around for many hours looking for any place for myself…all cheap places booked…found one that could offer me two nights but needed three…drove more…gave up and went back to place that offered two nights, found out that I could get three after all, took place.

3 nights in “marina resort” motel room. Nice wooden interior, but no phone, no TV, no microwave…no nothing ( except coffee pot-don’t drink coffee) Pub nearby…groceries 22km drive.

1 night couch surfing at friend who took dog in.

Steady decline of sanity.

Home now.