America is so much more relaxing for me, a native American English speaker, than that other place that I've been living. With no job worries, not having to pay for anything, and Christmas done right. You can't compete with any of that. It's been relaxing. Not real, but relaxing. My future, though looking incredibly cold and dark in Japan (which is incredibly cold and dark these days), might still have a chance of turning around.
Gift of the year was "The Crane Wife", which speaks to you and me in different ways, I'm sure.
Now, to buy some luggage.