There is a lot of value in changing locations on a regular basis if you are in a position to do so. New stimulus is important.

I don’t have much family in the US, but it is my home and I am very productive here. By the end of a year I start to get burned out, especially given my schedule.

Then I go to Egypt for part of the year, and am refreshed. My husband and I live there for a period of time each year, and visit family and friends. It’s warm and social, but chaotic and less productive. It’s also a hot desert, and Cairo in particular has a lot of air pollution (the car smog plus sand/dust combo).

So when I come back to the US I am refreshed again. Crisp, cool, clean, autumn air. Space and time to think and work in a more focused way.

The cycle refreshes anew each year.