Yes, I agree completely. It's taken me many years of self-created suffering to realize this. I was chasing the money and really missing out in the process - even in the midst of it, I knew something was off.

I've been able to really focus on work that I do for a group (non-paying work), and the time off has really been great for this.

acidfast - I think everyone should have the experience of living overseas at some point in their lives. It is such a great way to open perspectives and shift preconceived notions. That said, I knew people who had lived overseas for many years who retained very closed and narrow perspectives (xenophobia) despite it. Tragic.