And as someone who has seen other blogs (as many here, of course, but in particular I discovered ET -or rather Jérôme- when he posted on the Economist's view), I reckon that our fights -not that I always understand them as they often start from a semantic issue which I missed- are rather mild compared to the level of bad faith and ideology that I see elsewhere.

One thing is for sure in my view: the get together are vital. Many a times when a post irks me (and we should always remember that there is an even chance that the writer is not using his mother tongue -and I never read in my mother tongue here), I recall that I met the person, or that one of the people I met wrote similar posts and yet I know from meeting them that such people have no reason to irk me.

So I find it easier to cool down. Not that I always do. But, really, the internet is a great but tough medium of communication. Misunderstandings are the norm. Now, for those of you who have not been to a get together, trust me, the people writing here are a great bunch (that, obviously, includes you Chris), if often so passionate that they can be a little intense.

Now, intensity and honesty are not highly valued these days -hence your life story, Chris. Now, that you would go through it and reckon yourself happier now says something and earns you a lot of respect from the people that should matter -starting with yourself.
I hope I never have to make a similar decision as yours (one gets used to a decent level of material comfort and to not having one's name rubbished in the papers -as to one's family of course), but should the situation unfortunately occur, I hope I would make the same choice.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi