My mind constantly on those other places. Not so much wanderlust as wanderdeleriumtremens.
Not exaggerating -- despite the degrees and credentials, the difference between the present mode of things in my own country and being in a neutral country with a survival-level job and the chance to explore, read, work and think is approaching the difference between life and... t'other thing.
Working as hard as I can to put something in place to either return to southern Europe or carve out some sort of internal exile in the upper Midwest.
The only thing strong enough to break the commonly held notions about life in this society is the circumstances of your own life. But once that happens, 'the first moment after noon is night'.