On Oct 24, 1:56*am, "
wrote:
On Oct 23, 11:25*pm, "J. Clarke" wrote:

If the company covered air fare for your wife then it was very
unusual.

My Dad took a turn as a "traveling salesman" back in the 70s. *Mom was
invited to many events, conventions, etc. all bills paid by the
company.

I think it served two needs. *It helped keep the salesmen from feeling
so isolated as my father's job only let him come home as little as
four days a month. *Happy salesmen stay on board, and they sell more.

But I think it contributed to marital tranquility as well. *Mom didn't
feel so left out, and felt better about him being gone so long when
she had an idea of what he was up to, and who he was with. *Mom felt
better meeting clients and other salesmen and their wives.

Although the whole sales staff were rarely together, they all knew
each other, and if they jumped to other companies they also knew each
others clients. *I think these working sales meeting served as much as
social gatherings as working meetings.

As always, just my 0.02.

Robert

My brother-in-law often took my sister (now wheelchair bound) on 2-3
day business trips all over the planet. With the exception of places
like Saudi, she would accompany him sometimes for weeks. All paid. The
company saw it as a morale booster. That social networking amongst the
wives is still very strong. Personally, I think it is a good idea.
In the early days of his career, he would be on job sites for 2-3
years, of course she would be there for those extended stays. Their
four children were all born in a different country.

Traveling salesmen, who are nation-wide door knockers, are in a
different league. After all, if they are allowed to drag their wives
around on a full-time basis, there would be protests from all the
farmer's daughters.