I have been working at my company very happily for two years now as a software developer. However, recently I have started getting requests from the company to travel to different cities. I usually have to travel for one week every two months.
When I started this was not in my job description, and I actually refused a much more lucrative job offer from another company because they asked me if I could travel often. Right now I am in the process of buying a house and planning a wedding, and a lot of stuff is going on in my personal life that means it is impossible for me to travel.
I love my workplace and everything about my work; however, I can't keep on traveling, since there are far too many downsides. No amount of money will be able to convince me to keep traveling.
The request is coming from very high up. I have talked with my immediate manager, and the problem is that the request is coming from the vice president, so my manager has very little say in this matter. It is something that the company wants me to do on a regular basis.
How should I politely decline the request to travel and explain that I am not going to travel in the future and that it is not the job I signed up for?
Edit: Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I have requested a meeting tomorrow. Based off of how it goes I will accept an answer, and update my question with what happened. You guys are right - having a meeting with both of them should help.
Update: Just got off the meeting. Joe Strazzere was right. I conveyed in a calm manner that I can not travel as much and gave my reasons as to why. The decision was not met happily, however it was understood, and I will not have to travel as often. I was able to say that I agree to travel only if the case is very urgent. However just as a back up precaution I might have to polish up my resume and be on the lookout in case if the requirement to travel often will be continued. It seems from now on every request to travel will have to be fought off by me, and I will have to negotiate and see if I will have to travel or not.
Thanks Joe, I am in same shoes as you right now. Thanks to everyone else for their kind suggestions and help.