Couple Lived in Separate States for Two Years After Husband Took Job in South Carolina

A woman stayed in Washington, DC, while her husband worked in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for nearly two years after he accepted a job offer there. The couple had lived in the Washington area for a decade. The new role offered a higher salary and a title increase, but it required relocation to South Carolina, about seven hours away.

The husband moved first while the wife remained in DC with their six rescue pets. They expected the separation to last only a short time and hoped a hybrid work schedule would develop. They purchased a house near his new workplace. The wife planned to visit with the dogs and hire a cat sitter for the condo in DC.

The company did not allow remote work, so the husband drove 14 hours round-trip most weekends. The wife faced difficulties completing errands without a car and managed a back injury that limited her mobility. Additional costs for food delivery, rideshares, and home renovations reduced the benefit of the higher salary. One of the dogs began acting out during the husband's absence.

After nearly two years, the husband found a job in DC and moved back. The couple later sold the South Carolina house. They reported that the separation strained their relationship and agreed they would not repeat the arrangement.