I'm not getting what I WANT lately...but I'm certainly getting reminders about what I NEED.  Or at least the universe is telling me to stop acting like a big baby.

For instance:

I was grumpy that I had to come home after spending 6.5 weeks in Aruba.  It's very cold here in NH.  I run, run, run all the time.  I'm expected to be SuperMom.  I got to shed the cape and just BE in Aruba.  It was absolute bliss.  I was feeling very sorry for myself a couple of days ago.  I logged onto my one of my favorite blogs (Confessions of a Coal Miner's Granddaughter) looking for a laugh to cheer me up.  Instead I found her incredibly heart felt post about her father passing away 10 years ago.  Reality check.  My parents are still alive...and some grandparents as well.  Consider myself blessed.  Stop whining about the cold.

Today, I was experiencing a culture shock.  I explain some of the reasons why here.  I'm really trying to keep up with Papiamento and Spanish with the kids.  I find people overhearing us and giving us annoyed looks like we're trying to show off.  The other thing is that people in the US don't greet each other with a hug and kiss like in Aruba.  Especially my own family...incredibly cold, brr.  Not just that, but for some reason we all lack decent manners.  We're quite RUDE in fact.  Would it hurt to say "please" and "thank you" people?!

Anyhow, I ended up going to a party at my aunt's house this afternoon.  My "little" cousin, Jimmy, just returned from serving over a year in Iraq.  He just met his 9 month old daughter last week.  Want to talk about culture shock?!?!  He seems to be adjusting well enough.  What I'm experiencing is NOTHING compared to him...I've got it good.

I'm tired.  I miss Aruba for many, many reasons.  I don't feel at "home" yet here.  I can't fully explain the why.  I need to figure it out. 

Is it the lack of sun?  I realized that part of my problem is that I wasn't fueled on Starbucks my first few days back.  I kicked the addiction since Aruba does not have Starbucks.  Had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte in over 7 weeks today.  It did help a little bit. 

I WANT to get back into the swing of life...but perhaps I NEED to figure out a way to bring a little of my Aruban attitude into my life here...and my husband and I need to start planning our 2-3 year exit strategy to relocate there permanently.

Have any WANT versus NEED issues?  Please share.  Hearing about other people's lives has been helping me gain perspective on my own.