Howd you end up in France, Mike?
Graduated college and, after years with no break at all (even summer classes), i took a vacation in France living with my parents. While here, I got sued which made it difficult to return to the states. If the case went to court, it would mean I would have to relocate to the west coast (me no likey west coast). If it got dismissed (as it did) as a frivolous lawsuit, I could move anywhere (what I wanted). Since I didn't know where I would be having to go, I didn't want to, for example, take a job in NY, Mass. or someplace like that and then have to quit because of a lawsuit. I wouldn't look good on my employment record and I really wouldn't' want to have to explain to the Cali company I would then have gone to that I was embroiled in a lawsuit (anybody who knows anything about lawsuits knows that it takes up a lot of your time).
There are other reasons making a return more complicated, but that is the bulk of it. I'm noW building up my portfolio and looking for a job. It's a bit difficult because of the economy but I'm trying to make myself a valuable commodity in any circumstance (hence the zombies and so forth).