What is Doug's father like in Ray Bradbury's short story "The Rocket Man"?

In 's short
story "The Rocket Man," one of many in his anthology titled ,
Doug's father, referred to as Dad in the story, is a very
conflicted man. His internal conflicts
are expressed in his conflicting desires. On the one hand, he longs to be on Earth and continue
his relationships with his son and wife; yet, on the other hand, he is passionate about his job
as a Rocket Man and, not long before he returns home from his journeys, he is always off again
for another three-month stretch.

One way in which Dad displays
his longing to be on Earth is that, whenever he returns to Earth, the first day
he is back, he practically buries himself in the earth through his gardening. He continues to
dig and dig in the earth, all day long, never looking up, unless Doug and his mother are
standing right beside him, and never looking up at the sky.

There is also
evidence that shows his longing to be with his son and wife. For
example, Doug makes note of the fact that he never brings them home any presents from outer
space the way other fathers who are rocket engineers do. The reader can presume it is because it
hurts Dad too much to think of his family while in space. Similarly, he says he never calls his
family while in space because, as he phrases it, "If I called you, I'd want to be with you.
I wouldn't be happy."

Yet, at the same time, when asked, he says that
being in space is "the best thing in a lifetime of best things" and only
remains on Earth for three days. At the end of the three days, he always departs
once again for three whole months, showing just how addicted he is to his
job as a Rocket Man.