Yup, it tends to get more pressing as we go along, doesn't it? My process has definitely been one of climbs and plateaus, not a steady upward incline. And I imagine that's true of most of us. The idea that you find The Thing and stick with it forever is pretty much passe. We're living so much longer now and the world is changing too fast to experience that kind of stasis, and if we do, often it represents a death of the spirit in some way. Resignation, fear of moving forward.

But good for you for looking and wondering. And I agree -- at the very least, switch restaurants. Life is too short to spend it among disagreeable people.

ww