How do people whose jobs require extensive travel stay connected to those they love and keep their energy charged?

My partner is considering taking a job with a company that fits her in many ideal ways except for the 80% travel requirement. We see the obvious pitfalls and hardships of such a life. It also could mean a fun way for our family to explore the world.

We are flexible people and know how to think out of the box when it comes to family life and think we can navigate the stressors well. Yet, in the fall we are planning on starting the kids with an alternative school whose schedule is flexible, but would still limit how often we could join her. Obviously, we keep going back and forth over whether or not we can make this work for our family.

What helps a family thrive in this sort of situation? What causes them to crash and burn?