For me it's not just about whether you are independent or not. I've had relationships in which I was independent and others in which I was more enmeshed.
Before dh I was with someone who lived in a distant country for 75% of the time. I was independent then, all right.
Early in my time with dh he said 'are we going to see each other every night?' and I just laughed. Of course not, how could we possibly, we're both far too busy.
But I could probably count up the number of nights we've spent apart in 11 years - it's precious few. Because this is different.
When we went to stay with friends recently and found they'd put us in twin beds, we didn't even discuss it - we both slept in the same one.
That's not dependency, it's a positive choice for me.
My sister has had to cope with her husband working away for most of her married life and it's been really hard. I admire her enormously for it.
She's coped brilliantly but if they could have afforded to live in the places he can get work neither of them would have chosen it.
So, Jumpyjan, welcome to Mumsnet, and don't let anyone trivialise what you're going through.
Do anything you can to ease it for yourselves but don't try to make every weekend a honeymoon. Just because he's working away doesn't mean he needn't do the kids' washing and give you a lie-in at the weekend.
Good luck