Working and Thinking on the North Slope

After almost 20 years of travelling to the North Slope of Alaska to work for a major oil company, I can see lots of parallels with that lifestyle and that of truckers. Most oil patch workers do not work near their homes since most of that stuff is not in the garden spots of the world. Lots of workers are on a 28-28 schedule which actually works out to be about a 31-25 schedule due to travel time. Others work 2x2 schedules which means that they are working for 2 weeks then home for 2 weeks. This is probably the best of all schedules but still brings a set of problems along with it. While working, those guys are on the job for 7/12 which leaves little time to attend to personal things. Working 84 hours a week for 2 weeks can be tiring and when you get back to the house you have to spend a couple of days just "recovering". The spouse meanwhile has been totally in charge of the kids, the running of the house, paying bills, and getting broken things fixed, in addition to working while you were gone. They are in great need of respite which the returning worker is not able to give right away. Also, the spouse may think that the worker is used to having things done for them like housekeeping, cooking and things like that. It is true that those things are catered but still the worker has been living in a dorm-like existence which is not at all fun.
I suppose the point is that to make the relationship work takes lots of effort, open communication, and compromise on both parts. It is sometimes a good thing to let the other party know that you appreciate what they have to go through to make it all happen. The home-based person can express appreciation for the long hours and boring days that the worker puts up with just to earn enough money to make things work. The remote worker can let the partner know that they are appreciated and that their efforts are valued. Sometimes, a surprise bunch of roses sent for no special reason in the middle of the week can have much greater meaning than the regular anniversary, birthday, etc. gifts. Also, a surprise call to that teenager on the day of a big deal like a game or prom can serve to bring the worker closer to the daily lives of his family.
I notice that these blogs are starting to have more meaning now. Your kids can set up a blog and actually run sort of a diary that you can read and keep up on the happenings with them on a very timely basis. Also, you can keep them informed about your days and locations and what is going on in your world. Relationships are all about communication and these new techniques are going to change the way we communicate.


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Category Posted: General