One of the quiet highlights of the end of the past year was getting to return home to El Paso for the holidays, from late November into December. There is something grounding about being back in familiar places, especially after spending so much time overseas. Unlike when I visited over the end of Summer and tried to cram as much travel around the Western U.S. as possible, this time around the pace was slower, the desert sunsets felt comforting, and for a brief window, life felt wonderfully normal.

Most importantly, I got to spend time with my daughters. No matter how many miles or time zones separate us during the year, being together again made everything else fade into the background. Those moments reminded me why coming home matters, even when it’s short, and why the sacrifices of living abroad are always measured against time with family.

At the same time, returning to the U.S. always comes with a bit of sticker shock. Living overseas, you slowly recalibrate your sense of cost and value. Coming back, it’s impossible not to notice how expensive everyday life in the U.S. has become, from groceries to meals out to simple errands that somehow add up far faster than expected. When you live abroad, those increases feel especially stark, because you notice them all at once instead of gradually over time. Taking four people for burgers at Five Guys costs $80. A quick stop through the drive through, nearly $50. My wallet really felt the pain combining this with the annual holiday shopping.

Still, the chance to be home, to reconnect, and to remind myself where I come from made it worth it. Travel changes your perspective, but coming back, even briefly, has a way of sharpening it.