I'm on my way home tomorrow....and Dubai will be lucky if it sees me back here after being in San Diego for 2 weeks. If I can give any advice worthwhile here, it's to look around your life and say "thank you" for every little thing in it. As Americans, we have NO idea how good we have it....and I will never again question it.
With that said....my bags are packed, ticket printed and lips puckered to kiss the California ground that I will soon walk on. :)