A gazillion years ago when Mr. Clean and I got married we were still college students.  I wound up getting my MRS degree on our wedding day but Mr. Clean went on and continued his education (whoo hoo, go Terrapins!).

During and after his college days, Mr. Clean worked at jobs that he really loved.  First with Hechinger's, a now closed home improvement store and then for his current company.  In those days he used his brain and his hands.  Mr. Clean is quite intelligent and a computer nerd (only in secret, it would ruin his reputation...), but he loves being "hands on". 

In the early years with his current employer he was an electronic field technician.  He drove the company truck, used the company tools and installed product or fixed issues for customers.  He also made a very nice salary.  Then he was promoted to be the one who coordinates all the technicians, but he still got to get his hands dirty from time to time.  We referred to those days as "the light blue collar" days.  He got an even nicer salary.

Another promotion later we are in Pennsylvania (good-bye beloved Maryland) and he is now a regional coordinator.  Instead of the company truck it is a company car.  He no longer needs too many company tools because he rarely gets his hands dirty anymore.  His salary is bigger, but then again so is our mortgage payment (and our outlandish property taxes, but that is a rant for another day!).

At the light blue collar level he traveled a little, not too far from home and not too often.  Maybe a week here or there to the main office in Indianapolis or to put in some "face time" with some of his bigger customers.   Now he is in the Manhatten office two days a week (so that includes an overnight) and had to increase his travel to his other offices and to Indianapolis.

Mr. Clean is a homebody.  While he has traveled extensively and has no problem with it, he would much rather put in more "face time" with us.  Frankly, we miss having Daddy home every night. 

We have been extremely blessed to get the things that we have.  The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful 4 bedroom home big enough for lots of company, good cars for transportation and a healthy family.  My hubby's job is a good one and I know many women whose husbands are gone far more (not to mention those men who are on active duty currently), so complaining seems silly.  Yet, I would give it all up to be back in my former three bedroom townhouse with my light blue collar hubby in a minute! 

The ironic part is, so would Mr. Clean!  The only reason we have decided to stay put is that we love the community we live in and the cherished friends we have made here in Pennsylvania; not to mention our homeschooling allies! 

It is not too often that people desire to climb back down that ladder...