I'm a victim of my own success. Growing up I always felt free to move around and experience new people and new places. It was always part of who I am. I lived in a dozen different places in my life and traveled all over the world. As a kid I lived in Portugal and traveled all over Europe. I went to high school in Ohio, the heart land of the US. I studied in Colorado and lived in the former Soviet Union for a year. I've lived the last 10 years of my life in The Netherlands and traveling and experiencing different people and cultures is a part of my normal day to day life. All upside, no ? I've always been able to make friends at the drop of a hat, but was never very good at keeping in touch with them. Now its caught up with me.

My wife is the opposite, she's well traveled, but has really only lived three places in her life. She returns every year to her home and sees people she's known six zillion years. The guy who runs the market, the family that has always lived around the corner, the friends she hung out with in college. It's really great to be from somewhere and to see people you've known your entire life. Great and comforting.

I'm just realizing that friends and family are such a critical part of a person's life. I'm always late in these kind of realizations. So, if you're reading this and we know each other, drop me a mail. I know you're out there. I now you're reading this from time to time. Drop me a picture or two. I'd love to hear from you. Let's plan to get together. I'll come see you. I'll even buy you dinner. Take me up on it !