[q]and the 'big' stuff - like moving to a new home - is generally so stressful as to rob it of any excitement.[/q]

Dear God don't remind me. Now that everything is sorted out and I'm about to seriously move in and have bed to sleep in, and be away from the parents....

I'm done with being excited and just want this month to end so I can start spending recklessly.

As for your guess that having traveled around the world has robbed me of the simple glee of visiting some country (even one such as Japan), that may be spot on.

To Bert and Liz, nihao baca.