[career woman di says] work travel always taints a new city for me. the one thing i'll always remember about it is that i had to go there for some client. the way from the hotel to the client. where the nearest bofa atm is. where the nearest mall is. the direction of the airport. not that i don't try to have fun while i'm there, but most of my initial adaptation feelings always get rooted into the work routine.

given the number of years i've been consulting, i've been pretty fortunate to be staffed locally. when you're staffed locally, teams respect your personal schedule and space. it's great that you can go to the gym, or go home and cook, or meet up with friends at Americano after work. but when you're traveling, it seems less okay to do that. or does it? i always have a hard time deciding on hanging out with my very cool and nice colleagues at a new restaurant, or to keep up the exercise routine and head back to the hotel for a good workout. the lazy foodie part of me will always choose food. but the impending bridal di in me says work out! team i've definitely had great experiences with my various teams when i've been traveling, but i always regret how tired i am the next day, or how flubby i feel the following weekend. on the other hand, after that great workout, i always feel somewhat lonely at my room service meal, re-runs of SATC, and hotel room routine.

for my (perhaps non-existent) audience - how do you balance your work-personal life when you're traveling?

[fashionista di says] i think i'm the only one that thinks about outfits when she's about to go camping :) what to wear hiking, how to keep warm, what to wear when we might meet civilization the next day. kekekeek. silly di.