For how long is going to be gone? What are the possibilities of showing up during the trip? Not to check up, but as a nice surprise. I don't know if you have kids, work or financial issues, but it can make the time apart much better. Sometimes I have to travel up to two weeks at a shot. Pre kids, I used to take the wife. We still have fun talking about those trips even though they were generally to a real hell hole of a town.
