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Location: Texas | I guess I am just venting.... But I really am missing my husband tonight. He works in ND in the oilfield and is gone for 2 weeks and home for one. He is due to come home on Tuesday but I will be gone for work. Normally I am so busy that the time flies by, but this week work was slow so I was home Ll week. I rode horses and cleaned house and now I am bored to tears and missing him terribly. The worst part is that he will be home tues night and I won't get home Friday night and then he has to leave again on Sunday morning. I guess 10 days home with only the horses and dogs and no work has made me batty. I went to jackpot last night and again today and that helped some. Would have just liked to have had him home to go with me. I got to visit with some friends tody and went to lunch with a friend and her family after the jackpot which was nice. Ok. Guess I will finish watching my lifetime movie. |
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Posts: 1561
Location: Texas | Im with ya...my hubby is a rig welder and must go where the work is..he has been gone 5 weeks as of Sunday...and still gone :( |
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 Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Mine is gone for 4 weeks and with training for his new job will be gone 10 weeks at a time. It's a hard road but we are blessed that our husbands have these jobs.
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Yes, definately blessed that he has this job. It is affording us to do lots of things we could t do otherwise. I certainly have no idea how they work the long hours that they do, I couldn't do it that's for sure. Normally we get to talk a while everyday but the last two or 3 days have been hammer down up there. Two more days and he is headed south. Yay |
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 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | I work in the oilfield and I see guys like your husbands every day. The opportunities are wonderful. Why else would people make the sacrifice of being away from their loved ones for hitches that are many times measured in months? When I speak with your husbands, I ask them why they have made this choice. Why have they left their families to endure the harsh weather, long hours, intense workloads and brutal schedules? Why? Because the income is an opportunity that they cannot overlook. I get that. But I beg them to keep this one of the best opportunities they have ever had, instead of the worst mistake that their families need to endure.
They need to stay safe. Aware. Focused. It is not easy work they do, and not an easy environment. Your husbands need to be their "brothers' keeper." They need to help each other stay safe and they need to protect our earth. No shortcuts. Ever.
I have met people from all over the country; I enjoy them and want to help protect them. I also want to protect this beautiful state where I was raised. I want to protect the landowners and my land. My son is 13 and wants to follow in his father's footsteps in being a fulltime rancher. My daughter is 11 and wants to be an oilfield geologist. We can all "have our cake and eat it, too" if we are respectful of each other and the land.
Enjoy the time when your oilfield husbands are home. Remind them of the reasons they go, and more importantly, the reasons you want them to return home in the same condition they were when they left. It is not easy work they do, but it is important. Keep them safe!
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Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | I understand where you're coming from my SO got a new job 12 hours from our place so he is gone sometimes for months on end it gets soooo lonely  |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 822
Location: Southwest New Mexico | I'm having one of those days where I wish my husband worked far far far away..... |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | You do sound lonley, I'm sorry, hope that you get to feeling better |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | It's definitely not a lifestyle for everyone and I understand how you feel 110%. |
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Posts: 222
Location: Texas | Feel you pain! I'm a turnaround/shutdown wife. Hubby has been home only 3 weeks since December 1st. 10 days at Christmas. And a week 1/2 at the end of Feb.
Edited by Married2Rodeo 2014-03-23 9:14 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Somedays info get lonely, but it goes with the territory. It's not so bad when work keeps me busy. |
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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | ND3canAddict - 2014-03-22 11:55 PM I work in the oilfield and I see guys like your husbands every day. The opportunities are wonderful. Why else would people make the sacrifice of being away from their loved ones for hitches that are many times measured in months? When I speak with your husbands, I ask them why they have made this choice. Why have they left their families to endure the harsh weather, long hours, intense workloads and brutal schedules? Why? Because the income is an opportunity that they cannot overlook. I get that. But I beg them to keep this one of the best opportunities they have ever had, instead of the worst mistake that their families need to endure.
They need to stay safe. Aware. Focused. It is not easy work they do, and not an easy environment. Your husbands need to be their "brothers' keeper." They need to help each other stay safe and they need to protect our earth. No shortcuts. Ever.
I have met people from all over the country; I enjoy them and want to help protect them. I also want to protect this beautiful state where I was raised. I want to protect the landowners and my land. My son is 13 and wants to follow in his father's footsteps in being a fulltime rancher. My daughter is 11 and wants to be an oilfield geologist. We can all "have our cake and eat it, too" if we are respectful of each other and the land.
Enjoy the time when your oilfield husbands are home. Remind them of the reasons they go, and more importantly, the reasons you want them to return home in the same condition they were when they left. It is not easy work they do, but it is important. Keep them safe!
Great post! |
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 It Goes On
Posts: 2262
Location: Muskogee, OK | Completely know where you are coming from! Just know you aren't alone.. My SO just took a new job with Halliburton and is away for weeks at a time training--once he gets his own shift will probably go to the more common 2 week on, 2 week off rotation. It's rough, but like some of the others said, these jobs offer great opportunities and pay very well.
Just enjoy him while his home---and hang in there! I think it takes a special type of woman and relationship to endure the oilfield lifestyle. But the ones that can hang in there are truly strong relationships and last a lifetime. |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Usually I am ok while he is gone. I keep busy etc. we have been at this for 3 yrs now so it's not new At all. Like I said just slow at work so I have been home more than usual so I have just run out or things to lol. End of April we are going to Jamaica on an all expenses paid trip I won at work. We are both really excited about it. |
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boon
Posts: 1
| Have you considered volunteering during your free time? Visiting a nursing home, learning a new skill, taking an online class? There are so many lonely people out there who don't have the luxury of looking forward to someone coming home soon that would be comforted by a visit. JMO. |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | I definately would volunteer if I had more time. This week has not been the norm. Usually I leave home on Monday and get back on Thursday or Friday and do that all over again the next week. This week was just unusually slow so I didn't have to travel. |
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Cold hands and Warm Heart
Location: oklahoma | nm_ana07 - 2014-03-23 12:09 AM
I'm having one of those days where I wish my husband worked far far far away.....
Lol, my ex worked for Halliburton for years, overseas. Probably why we stayed married as long as we did. Op, hope you get busy again so the time flies. |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| My nieces husband mike worked the north dakoda oil fields and it was hard for them to be separated.its got to be tuff. |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | I'm an oilfield wife, but not to the true extreme that you gals are!
I'm lucky enough that my husband is only about 3-4 hours away from home and he doesn't have to work night shifts or anything that would keep us from communicating on a regular schedule. He is usually gone only M-Th nights, but sometimes he has to work weekends and might be gone for 2-3 weeks, but I am lucky enough to be able to go out and see him on the weekends.
One of my best friends' husbands works in ND and they're on a 3week on/1week off rotation. We usually go to the gym together or do anything just to stay busy! Neither of us have kids so it's harder to fill the time, but probably not as hard on us with them being gone compared to the ladies who have to do everything for their kids single handedly.
Keep staying busy and know that we're here on the boards to entertain you if you ever need it!  |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I'm also an oilfield wife... but I also staff for a couple of companies... my husband works Frac and is gone 8 days and home 4 days... It definitely takes getting adjusted too... |
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 Do You Feel Lucky Punk?
Posts: 3156
Location: NM...the Land of Manana | HotbearLVR - 2014-03-23 9:59 AM ND3canAddict - 2014-03-22 11:55 PM I work in the oilfield and I see guys like your husbands every day. The opportunities are wonderful. Why else would people make the sacrifice of being away from their loved ones for hitches that are many times measured in months? When I speak with your husbands, I ask them why they have made this choice. Why have they left their families to endure the harsh weather, long hours, intense workloads and brutal schedules? Why? Because the income is an opportunity that they cannot overlook. I get that. But I beg them to keep this one of the best opportunities they have ever had, instead of the worst mistake that their families need to endure.
They need to stay safe. Aware. Focused. It is not easy work they do, and not an easy environment. Your husbands need to be their "brothers' keeper." They need to help each other stay safe and they need to protect our earth. No shortcuts. Ever.
I have met people from all over the country; I enjoy them and want to help protect them. I also want to protect this beautiful state where I was raised. I want to protect the landowners and my land. My son is 13 and wants to follow in his father's footsteps in being a fulltime rancher. My daughter is 11 and wants to be an oilfield geologist. We can all "have our cake and eat it, too" if we are respectful of each other and the land.
Enjoy the time when your oilfield husbands are home. Remind them of the reasons they go, and more importantly, the reasons you want them to return home in the same condition they were when they left. It is not easy work they do, but it is important. Keep them safe!
Great post!
Agreed! |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Thanks y'all fOr the ear to listen. He is headed home now and will be home later tonight so I will get to see him before I have to leave in the morning to go to work out of town till Friday. Unfortunately we will only get one full day home together this rotation, but that is better than nothing. |
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Swiffer PIcker Upper
Posts: 4015
Location: Four Corners Colorado | Question for all you other oil field wives. How do you deal with family.
My hubbys family want him to run all over and visit with them when he home. We have a farm and the hubby wants to spend all his time at home with me and helping catch up on the farm. His family lays a major guilt trip on him about it and I hate that. I tell him to visit but he feels bad taking a whole day to go and see them.
I have told them they can always stop by here but they never do. It kind of ticks me off. Besides everytime we do see his family its usually with their hands out. |
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 Banjo and Baby
Posts: 7259
Location: South of Canada and North of Mexico | I know how you feel, it gets easier once you are used to it, and you will actually come to love your "me" time. My husband works union putting in mainline pipelines, hes usually gone all year except at Christmas time, here lately he's been home since Oct when I had my baby working a little here and there, hes currently in ND (almost Canada) helping repair a leak, for the last two years he was in WV which is a 22 hour drive for me. I'm used to being able to go and see my husband whenever I wanted but now that my son is in 1st grade that changed quite a bit starting last year. Its a tough choice but I think I will be giving up my horses so I can be with him in the summer months, it sucks.
There are quite a few groups on facebook, plenty of us wives know exactly what you are going through.. theres a few you might want to join, this is currently the one Im in. They will still welcome you even though he's not a pipeliner. :-)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesweetlifeofapipelinerswife/
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Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | equussynergy - 2014-03-25 7:57 AM Question for all you other oil field wives. How do you deal with family.
My hubbys family want him to run all over and visit with them when he home. We have a farm and the hubby wants to spend all his time at home with me and helping catch up on the farm. His family lays a major guilt trip on him about it and I hate that. I tell him to visit but he feels bad taking a whole day to go and see them.
I have told them they can always stop by here but they never do. It kind of ticks me off. Besides everytime we do see his family its usually with their hands out. Exactly to highlighted! This aspect took my mother in law time to really figure out...she still has trouble with it and they to DO NOT make effort to come visit us.....maybe been to visit 6 times in the 7 years we've had our place.....
I think your hubby needs to get the point across a bit better to his family that with the farm and his limited days to be home he cant always drop and go......have him remind they are welcome to visit (but I'm sure call prior 
Edited by dream_chaser 2014-03-25 1:36 PM
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Hi BB! Checking in with you, I hope you're feeling better today. :)
I see my honey everyday, but we're both so tired at the end of the day it's sort of like our alter egos get together (luckily they seem to like each other too). Cannot wait for a couple days away from this pipeline beast so we can rest and rehab!! I love seeing him when he's bright and energetic, and full of fun, and I know he feels the same way about me.
I get so lonely for him and our life without a big pipeline project and us going a million miles an hour. Just don't try to short yourself on sleep, it just gets worse. Hugs girly! |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Yep, feeling better today. Hubby got home yesterday and he was a BEAR, was beat tired and grumpy with a capital G. It took all my self control not to beat him over the head for being such a butthead, but I understand he was exhausted. Got up at 4 am and headed to airport to go to Brownsville for work. Hopefully I will get to go home late Thursday night if not I will still get home earlier on Friday than planned. He is off to visit him family tody so that has worked out. Worst case scenario we will have most if not all of Friday and all of Saturday. Then he will be headed back Sunday morning and I will be headed to a jackpot Sunday afternoon
As far as family wanting to see him when he is home.... Most times he will stop on his way into town to visit with them. Other times we may go up for the day. Neither one of us feel guilty if he doesn't get to see him every rotation as we need our time as well. I might not be as sympathetic to his family time because my family is in FL and I typically only see them once maybe twice a year. |
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 Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | Mine was gone a lot last year. He has managed to be home most weekends this year so far. I know that won't last as he's set to head to ND soon. I enjoy having my 'me' time although it does get lonely and I do miss him. Fingers crossed he can get work close to the house in August/September when I have the baby. |
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 I Prefer a Beard
Posts: 1944
| I've been there and its not fun. I raised my two boys for the about 7 years with my husband gone working in the gas field. I was ok most of the time but I remember some nights just crying because I was so tired of being alone. He is home now and I'm glad but it was a big transition getting use to him being home after living that way for such a long time. Vent when you need to
Edited by caspersabelpip 2014-03-26 7:39 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1432
| As of today, I just became an oilfield wife. My husband starts tomorrow in ND. |
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![](<a href="http://s1191.photobucket.com/albums/z470/alicat0909/?action=view¤t=yellaandcalf.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1191.photobu) Heeler Hater
Posts: 3014
Location: Texas | 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 9:32 PM
As of today, I just became an oilfield wife. My husband starts tomorrow in ND.
My husband left monday to go to South Texas.
He'll be gone for a month and I already miss him :( |
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Expert
Posts: 1432
| Alicat0909 - 2014-03-26 8:38 PM 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 9:32 PM As of today, I just became an oilfield wife. My husband starts tomorrow in ND. My husband left monday to go to South Texas. He'll be gone for a month and I already miss him : (
Thank goodness, mines in ND so he's not too far away. |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 9:32 PM
As of today, I just became an oilfield wife. My husband starts tomorrow in ND.
What company did he get on with? What city? Maybe he will be working with my hubby. There are so many companies up there though I highly unlikely. |
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Location: Texas | Oilfield wife here too. My hubby was gone for 2 months, home for a week then got another call and was gone a other month. Got a call his mom had a stroke, so he drug up and went back to where she is, which is fine by me :)
But I do miss him.
Gets a little lonely sometimes with only dogs, cats, n horses to talk to. But they make great listeners. :)
Thankful for rodeo buddies and race days |
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Expert
Posts: 1432
| barrelbasher - 2014-03-26 9:12 PM 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 9:32 PM As of today, I just became an oilfield wife. My husband starts tomorrow in ND. What company did he get on with? What city? Maybe he will be working with my hubby. There are so many companies up there though I highly unlikely.
Cyclone and in Williston. Who does yr husband work for? |
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 Regular
Posts: 52
Location: North Dakota | Ladies I work in the oil field in Williston! If your hubby's ever need some relaxation or someone to hang out with let me know! I know it's tough on both ends! My fiancé is from here so I'm home every night...... Well kinda! She's missed out on a lot of things due to my work schedule but she's as strong as they come!! Keep your heads up ladies! |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 10:40 PM
barrelbasher - 2014-03-26 9:12 PM 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 9:32 PM As of today, I just became an oilfield wife. My husband starts tomorrow in ND. What company did he get on with? What city? Maybe he will be working with my hubby. There are so many companies up there though I highly unlikely.
He works for Rockpile and is out of Watford City. But their main yard is in Dickinson |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | MMbarrelHorses - 2014-03-26 11:08 PM
Ladies I work in the oil field in Williston! If your hubby's ever need some relaxation or someone to hang out with let me know! I know it's tough on both ends! My fiancé is from here so I'm home every night...... Well kinda! She's missed out on a lot of things due to my work schedule but she's as strong as they come!! Keep your heads up ladies!
Good to know. How is the airport in Williston to fly out of? He had flown home thru Dickinson and that didn't go great so he has mostly driven home since then but he is getting tired of the long drive from ND to TX |
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Posts: 223
Location: Idaho | barrelbasher - 2014-03-27 5:56 AM
MMbarrelHorses - 2014-03-26 11:08 PM
Ladies I work in the oil field in Williston! If your hubby's ever need some relaxation or someone to hang out with let me know! I know it's tough on both ends! My fiancé is from here so I'm home every night...... Well kinda! She's missed out on a lot of things due to my work schedule but she's as strong as they come!! Keep your heads up ladies!
Good to know. How is the airport in Williston to fly out of? He had flown home thru Dickinson and that didn't go great so he has mostly driven home since then but he is getting tired of the long drive from ND to TX
Williston airport is ok. Definitely expensive and flights get full and odd hours. We've had better luck the last two times flying out of Minot. There is a shuttle that runs from Williston to Minot for like $20 bucks. There is talk of a flight being added from Williston to central MN, so it will be nice to have another route option if that happens. |
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Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 10:40 PM barrelbasher - 2014-03-26 9:12 PM 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 9:32 PM As of today, I just became an oilfield wife. My husband starts tomorrow in ND. What company did he get on with? What city? Maybe he will be working with my hubby. There are so many companies up there though I highly unlikely. 
Edited by Jinx 2014-03-27 9:56 AM
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Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | Alicat0909 - 2014-03-26 9:38 PM 3TurnsonSpud - 2014-03-26 9:32 PM As of today, I just became an oilfield wife. My husband starts tomorrow in ND. My husband left monday to go to South Texas. He'll be gone for a month and I already miss him : (
Mine goes to Southern TX too - El Paso usually. |
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Missing my husband tonight. Oilfield wife.