Our last full day in Barcelona is upon us.  We’ve said goodbyes to friends and are mostly packed up.  I’ve already cried over the people & things I’m going to miss, and also lost sleep over the excitement of everything we have to look forward to at home.  So now, I leave you with raw data.  No emotions, deep thoughts or reflections… just the facts:

Time lived in Spain: 1 year
Pickpockets/purse snatchings we physically stopped while living in Barcelona: 4 (I’m pretty sure that’s more than the Policia)
Travel days (outside of Barcelona): 111
Countries visited: 20
Most searched word to get to our blog: “pooping” (I assume this search lead people to our blog because of this blog entry)
Total amount of money spent: You have to buy the book for that one!!!

Yup, that was a plug.  The first draft of my book is nearly complete, although it will take more time for the editing, design & publishing processes.  The book is more or less the story of our experiences, how we did what we did, and what we’ve learned from it.  More details to come, so stay tuned.

As for this blog, it will continue once we are home, but will likely be restructured to separate topics on home life & travel.  You will definitely hear from us a few more times while we do our “homecoming tour” and learn how to reacquaint ourselves with the American Dream.  Then, once life returns to “normal” (whatever that is), we will stop the automated emails from going out every time we post a blog entry (for those of you who are subscribers), unless it’s something really important.  But if you – like Scott – think that everything I have to say is important, you can always RSS our site, or just check back whenever you think of us (which hopefully will be often).

Now, I’m going back on what I said above about keeping this blog to raw data (c’mon, did you really think I’m capable of that?), as I close with a quote.  Although I probably won’t fully realize how much this year has impacted me for months or years to come, I have a feeling this is will be a good summary:

“Absence lessens the minor passions and increases the great ones, as the wind douses a candle and kindles a fire.”  – Francois de La Rochefoucauld

I think it’s good to extinguish a few minor candles now & then, as long as the important passions in life are en fuego!!!  Hasta California…