I feel very much as though I am returning from Mars, or at least a 10-month mission trip even though I wasn't gone that long.  And if I think about it, my fall from the face of the earth started about 18 months ago, so it has been quite some time since I was truly connected to a community.  I feel like I have so much catching up to do, and fortunately I have the summer off in which to do it.  (I think the longer I stay in the 9-3 academic year calendar, the harder it will be to leave...)  I am also well aware that it will not be like this forever, and eventually I will have to find a way to maintain this level of self-care sustainably.