The interesting thing about this phenomenon is that over time, if you had more of it here in Guatemala, you would find the way to bring those things that are most important to you back into your life. When I came here, I lived like everyone else ... cooking over an open fire and washing myself, my dishes and my clothes in the lake. 16 years later, even though my house can not be called luxurious by any stretch, I have found the way to have a refrigerator, a good oven, and a hot shower in my indoor bathroom, while most of my neighbours still cook over open fire and, although they now have a water tap in their yards, still have outdoor toilets and pilas. (and dirt floors). I see two reasons why this happens, and I don't think its as much about money as one might think. First, I have had the experience of living another way, and given time, can once again manifest the things that I feel are important to my mental and physical health. And second, my education, which I took way too much for granted when I was getting it, enables me to find the ways to manifest what I need.

That said, it is also true that this type of lifestyle shows you what IS really important to you and will probably mean a sharp decrease in North American "luxuries".

Good luck for your last 6 months ... it will probably just keep getting better and better!