Some kids are naturally scheduled; some kids are not. Some kids adjust to having their schedule disrupted; some kids don't.
My first son could sleep anyplace under most circumstances IF it was his regular nap time or bed time. He had a predictible routine from about 4 months of age as far as eating, sleeping and pooping. I could pretty much do anything I wanted and he'd still sleep fine. My husband put him to sleep, I put him to sleep, his sitters put him to sleep, his grandparents put him to sleep -- I'm pretty sure even complete strangers could have gotten this kid to sleep on a park bench overlooking a train station! So I went out a lot at night -- dinner with friends, dinner with husband, concerts, classes, etc.
My second son could only sleep in his car seat on the floor of our bedroom (NOT in the car!)OR curled up next to me in bed while I breathed on his face OR in my arms while I sat in the rocker -- not in the recliner, not in his daddy's arms, no changes, nothing. If it was his bedtime (or naptime) and I wasn't there to hold him or to put him in the car seat, forget it. Whoever was there was in for hours and hours of wailing until I came home. Then it took FOREVER to calm him down and FOREVER AND A HALF to get him to bed. Finally I decided that NO PLACE was worth going if he was going to be that miserable and I was going to be that miserable. So for 14 months, I didn't go anyplace during bedtime or down-to-nap time.
Back when I just had the one child, I was oh so smug when people told me how horribly their child reacted to changes in their schedule. I was so sure that it was poor parenting on their part. A really good mom (like me) could get their kid to sleep anywhere at any time.
Boy was I embarassed when I had the second child. Because he was so fussy, I was forced to consider just how 'good' a mom I was versus just how 'good' a baby the first one was. I soon realized that sometimes, no matter what, babies have their own opinions, needs, wants, demands . . . It's like they are their own seperate person or something!
But, now my boys are 15 and 12. Both will sleep anywhere and at any time. The first one is still more compliant and the second one is still more stubborn -- but now I can leave the house whenever I want.
And now, I wish I had some of those nights back, to cuddle my babies just one more time . . .