The other day we had an experience that, upon reflection, made me wonder if I would ever have the same experience in Canada. What happened was that we ran out of coffee. And as I poured the last of the grains into the coffee maker I thought to myself, “Hm, do we get another bag, or no?” And that made me think about the myriad of other items whose purchase is affected by how much time we have left in a given place. Like sugar, flour, other foods. Clothes even are part of the picture. I have a drawer of clothes which I will not bring overseas with us, but will simply wear them out while we are here and then either throw them away, or pack away the more salvagable ones for when we are back in 3 years. The newer clothes wait in the suitcase ready to be used once we get overseas. Toys for the kids… do we buy new ones ‘now’ or will we just need to leave them behind, in which case don’t bother buying them. Our life possessions are chosen by answering the question, “Will it fit in the luggage?”

Now don’t get me wrong; once we are where we will be for the next year or so we feel free to get those things which make a house more homey, and meals more mealy (?), and relaxing more relaxed. But it is during these moments, just before leaving, that we are faced with the question: Do we buy more peanut butter, or no?