Ok I live with this myself.

My Owner and I at first lived together and during that time everything was rather smooth...IE I didn't fight him much ever on anything... on my part really at all beyond what he expected and desired, we had this natural and healthy exchange of power going on where if I did challenge him it was within the context and confines of what we both expected (which I've spoken of at length in the being kajira thread here in another part of the submissive s couch) and that he would naturally put me back in place. It was very easy for us when I basically slept right there at the foot of his bed or in it on occasion.

Then I moved to take care of my mother after my father passed and he did what your man is doing and wrapped things up back home before coming to join me.During which time I first came to this site which really helped me personally a lot in keeping that submissive feeling (fortunately my Owner allows it...we are very poly) It did in some ways spice our relationship up even more in a lot of ways because we couldn't be face to face but once every weekend or so and that lead to a lot of that precious time being used for the fun stuff. No big problems there Id say since we did get married later but I did notice that I needed to really really feel him put the pressure on more than before when we lived together all the time to feel that delish sensation of utter surrender at first which he seemed to do without thinking about it anyways.

However: when he went back in the service and got deployed and then deployed again and again and now still currently deployed lol you get the picture; it was a whole new challenge after being away from him so long at a time with limited or no contact (also I've seen it change him some too) to just settle back into things as they were all the way was a bit more challenging to say the least, we even had some fights at times and bumpy parts during those first couple runs.

That all being said...I am not so sure you or I need any re-training when the whip is picked back up after an absence so much as we perhaps need to become introspective and realize it may be that in the recent absence of it (their direct dominion over us) that we try to take that out on our men by rebellion because inside there is a part of us that perhaps resents it's apparent absence ( lets face it...if all you can do is communicate once in a while and its not even in person as opposed to every day or so...in practice no matter what level of submission one proclaims your actually acting independent of supervision the majority of the time and simply not "feeling it" and that can foster a need to feel the whip more later when you do...especially if they are critical of how we have handled things in their absence or don't seem as interested in the fun kinky stuff so much as other things etc etc IE if they changed some too because of the situation.

Now I am not saying this dynamic develops as the fault of the submissive...don't get me wrong...it is a two way street as I mentioned above with the overly critical part lol...when it comes to bad behavior it like everything else in relationships goes both ways.

Which is why its paramount for not a special ceremony or anything (that IMHO would not feel as natural or address the real issues at heart) so much as to communicate with each other openly and honestly at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner (cool mind, be objective and empathetic, really listen take time to form answers, think and remember the whole time its the one you love your talking too) recognize together the root of the problem. It is caused by the situation and is no one's fault and the solution to it lay in recognizing it for what it is...and pressing on...maybe even if that is what it takes with some renewed vigor on both parts so to speak..wink winks.

Good luck in your endeavors!