Due north is still the direction we are headed. I have been reading books outloud to the kids and just finished From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konisburg. It's and oldie but a goodie. There was a great quote about happiness that felt very right to me.

"Happiness is excitement that has found a settling down place, but there is always a little corner that keeps flapping around."

This journey feels like that to me. In the beginning, before we left and were in the throws of planning, it was sheer excitement. Once we left it was all so new and each experience brought a fresh round of excitement. I can't say exactly where the excitement began to settle down into the happiness with the little corner that keeps flapping, but we do feel settled and happy. The corner flaps at the spectacular moments which have now become second nature, but I also really feel it on the nothing days when I have a second to catch my breath and think again about what we're doing. I don't think that particular corner will ever stop flapping.