I'm halfway through my 'incarceration' in Stegner House. The theory is that it takes 28 days to make (or break?) a habit. I'm ahead of it a bit because I am accustomed to being alone and doing for myself. My habit is already in place, so it's just a change of venue. Even so: strange kitchen; limited choice of food in the stores; different bugs (box elder bugs in the porch, resurrected by sunlight); new scenery (lovely views of the Cypress Hills); new people (not many because they've been trained to stay away, but they're friendly); and silence. I love the silence, but it takes getting used to. I guess I've become a city girl. I know, however, that when I return, noise is going to be hard to get used to. A few years ago I swapped my apartment for one in Reykjavik for two weeks. That worked out very well, and it was quiet. Even the language barrier was no obstacle because everyone in Iceland can speak some English and they go out of their way to help strangers. I think it helps to have a purpose in your (temporary) transplant. My advice to others and to myself has always been "Have a reason to get out of bed in the morning." I have a reason each day and that is what makes getting up in a strange place easy. Many travel writers warn that no matter where you go you can't escape from yourself. You take you with you, as if that were a bad thing. Sometimes that's the only thing you can count on and it's a huge advantage. You can start from Square One and not with one foot in a hole in the ground. Hey! Where did you/I go? I'm right here. Are you there?