There was a year long period in my life where my kids lived with my ex, my husband was on a project in NY and I was working on a project in Ottawa. Someone was flying every weekend. We spent 2 weekends a month in Toronto, one weekend in Ottawa and one weekend in NY. Our corporate travel guy was the only sanity saver in the entire situation.
We did manage to arrange to stay with our inlaws during the 2 weekends a month we were in Toronto and thus saved a year of accomodation expenses and bought a new house at the end of the process. Although the payoff was nice I don’t think I would ever want to do that again.
My brother’s MIL is a hoarder. His FIL loves her dearly, but can not stand to live in that house. So he lives in an apartment above brother’s garage, and walks back and forth (MIL’s house is about two blocks away) to help her with chores and eat the meals she cooks.
Honestly, I don’t know how she cooks or bathes in that place. He doesn’t let it get dirty or run down, but even the front porch is filled up with old broken plastic chairs and rolled up yucky mattresses.
He loves her to death though, and sees it just as if she had diabetes or something.
I’m currently doing this. After being unemployed for 18 months I found a job teaching at a community college 125 miles away. My classes are scheduled Mondays through Thursday, so I drive up to the college town (where I rent a room in a house) on Sunday and I’m back by 7:00 PM Thursday.
Since I teach one night class (Tuesday), and I’m up late working on grading and lectures, I don’t think I’d be spending more time with my wife anyway.
I’m glad to get a good job (and one that I’m loving), my wife is supportive, so it’s working for us.