I take my job seriously. Managing multiple departments means there’s work to keep up with wherever I am. The way I look at it, working from the road is the same job I do at home, just with a different view and a different perspective.
My workday runs from eight to five Eastern, and those hours aren’t changing because I’m taking a trip. As I head west, I’ll be starting earlier in the local day. That’s fine with me. My travel plans have to fit around work.
On several trips to Europe, I’ve worked for a month or more while keeping Eastern hours without any problems. It worked very well for me. Being somewhere else didn’t stop me from doing my job, so I already know that part can work. Now I’m taking it into a trailer.
The equipment was something I wanted to get right before leaving. My laptop has a large battery, and two additional screens attach to it. They’re smaller than the screens at home, but I can work the same way and get the same things accomplished. For me, the extra screens and battery capacity are must-haves.
Starlink will be my main internet connection. With wide-open skies out in the desert, I’m expecting it to work well. My cell phone will be the backup wherever I have service. Cell connections have dropped while I’ve been working away from home before, so internet was something I wanted to sort out before leaving.
A notebook and a pen are also essential. I write things down so I don’t forget them. When I’m on the road, I want to stay on top of things so people don’t have a reason to wonder whether I’m working. The notebook is as much a part of my setup as the screens.
This will be my first extended trip living and working from the trailer. Until I’ve spent a month doing it, I won’t know how closely it matches what I’ve planned. The equipment is ready, my work hours are set, and previous trips have shown me I can work away from home. The rest I’ll find out as I go—and that’s what I’ll write about here on The Desk Out There.
— The Guy Behind the Desk
