For me its more the time spent away from family than time spent away from home that gets to me. During times when I'm away for weeks or months at a time, I like just taking a short trip home which often recharges me for the next week. Fortunately my travels are almost entirely within the US and often the west coast so its relatively easy to come home on weekends, even if its only for 24 hours. Sometimes I'll surprise my family by coming home in the middle of the week if I'm only a 2-3 hour direct flight away. I'll work an early day Wednesday, run to the airport and be home in time for the kids bedtime, and then leave early the next morning. Even though I get less sleep doing these little trips, I find I'm much more satisfied with life in general. I can't imagine how some folks do it though being away without even stepping foot back home for weeks or months at a time. That would burn me out in a hurry.