How do you make your FIFO relationship work?

[puppysparkes]

There I said it! My partner is currently in a 4 on 2 off in PNG. Depending on coms I think we make an effort.

 

[horseman]

Regular phone calls and lots of Skype.

 

[Simo]

I have done and still do travel for work.

Not as much as I use to but still have a night or 2 here and tehre.

The big thing is communication.

Even when overseas a quick phone call or SMS just to say hi makes it better for the other party.

Mind you we have had ph calls which are long when I have been OS and just stuff the expense.

Bring presents back always makes things better.

Sometimes I also send flowers during the trip as well.

I have been offered some work OS but not going to do it.

Too hard on the family and also my business as well, my partner would have to do a lot more work in the business if I did the work OS.

 

[wingspan]

Focus on the positives:

You get to enjoy time working on your other relationships while your partner is away. This could include nice dinners, healthy walks, movies, hanging out with friends and family.

You get your own space for a while when they go away. You can cook yourself all the foods they hate but you love, you can treat yourself to a nice meal out and focus on yourself, you don't have to get out of your pyjamas all day if you don't want to!

You enjoy the time you are together that much more because you can do special things for each other (why not drop in a surprise visit to PNG on one of your partner's trips?).

You benefit from their frequent flyer points - use them to have a nice weekend getaway for the two of you!

 

[The Rok]

I do it, 2 on 1 off but for the past year I was on 4 or 5 on 1 off.

The key, a quick call, 10 or 15 minutes every single day instead of long calls every few days.

I ring my fiancé every morning from 04:45-05:00. It gets her up for work and it brightens my day hearing her voice.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Its tough, especially with kids. Quality time when home - only averaging 10 days home a month ATM, the rest interstate. Making every effort to get home as quickly as possible, even if it means connecting more or $$$. And learning to say no when lucrative offers away from home come up during time planned with family.

 

[horseman]

+1 for the odd gift here and there. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
Was in the usa for valentines day a few years ago, think from memory we spent 2 hours on the phone, big bill, however happy employees with happy relationships are very important, it's in the company's best interests to pay for big phone bills to maintain this.

 

[medhead]

SWMBO says the time apart saved our marriage. She was mostly joking. We have unlimited calls between our mobiles and home. Quality time at home, and I work while away and don't work when at home. Also helps that my official hours are 4 days a week, so 3 day weekend every week, plus 4 days (easter) every 5 weeks.

 

[benmay]

I was talking to someone last night in Perth, and he manages something to do with FIFO staff... anywho, he had one dude recently retire 50s-60s or something, and lasted about 3 months until he wanted to come back and join the work force. He'd been working FIFO for 30yrs and realised he didn't like sitting at home with his wife full time ;-)

 

[johncitizen]

My partner works a flexible job, We usually try and line up time off every swing, we decide on something to do, then spend the month talking about it. For communications, I'm using whatsapp and skype as the call rate over here is a killer, data is expensive to at around 50 Kina ($25AUD) for 500mb, but it usually lasts me the entire swing. Short frequent phone calls are much better, she usually goes to my mothers one night a week and I try to call the landline there for an hour and talk to my whole family, the key is consistency, ensuring you won't get too bogged down on site to neglect the people back home. That and 8 hours sleep every night.