I have a similar issue. I traveled by motorcycle back in the '70's when I was single, only in the US. I quite to go to college in 1989 and never traveled again until 2009. I got married in 1997, at 40 years old. I have three boys. Here is what I'm doing.

Up to this point, I have taken small trips, most not exceeding a week. As my kids have gotten older, and wife has gotten more adjusted to my being gone, I have begun to lengthen the trips. My next trip, in June 2012, is to the Arctic, which will be 30 day trip.

As far as work goes, I will "take it with me". Most of the time I will not have to deal with work. But I will have to things like monthly billings to customers. So that will be handled using phone and laptop, emailing pdf copies of billing back to the secretary so she can process them.

Family has gradually gotten behind my travels and my wife is now even planning to begin traveling with me in about 3-5 years. She is currently looking at our first tour outside the US - a two-week ride around Ireland.

I'm planning to begin taking one 30 day trip per year for now. Some may become longer once I retire completely. But for now, this is all I can do. I only have two weeks paid vacation per year. So two seeks will be without pay.

I really enjoy reading the ride reports of those who travel for months at a time. But I have a family, and other obligations that I choose to not give up. And I want a home base to come back to. So I will never be one of those sell everything and hit the road kind of guys.

My wife will tell you that once I gave up the "wall street" life and began riding motorcycles and doing woodworking, my personality changed for the better. I'm much more happy and laid back. Just like I was back in the 70's and 80's when I rode motorcycles. We met in 1995 and she did not know the extent of my motorcycle traveling in prior years until later.

So here is my advice to you. Take it slow. But do ride. Take small trips. Day trips. Do things like this. Find a road near home. Take it. Ride on it til it comes to an end. As your family gets older, try to get your wife interested in bikes. Go to rallys. Take her. Find a babysiiter for the kids. Join a local motorcycle club if one is nearby.

Take your time, gradually build into it. Once you get closer to retirement age, the time will begin to open up and you will be able to take bigger trips. But enjoy your family. Those kids grow up freaky fast. Consider yourself as one of the lucky guys who has both: a great family and the ability to ride motorcycles. I know I do.