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Go for it. Sheep rocks. Taste great. Easy to butcher and house. Great temperament. Nice company.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I've got a couple years left on this current work contract to make my plans. The good thing about returning back to the U.S. is that I can choose which state I want to relocate to. So far SW Pennsylvania looks attractive. Apparently it was historically a major sheep herding area. Any suggestions for locations? If you were in my shoes, where would you cast your eye?

I can't speak to specific places in the US—my knowledge is too limited there. But when we relocated a decade ago, these were the factors that guided us: 1. An aesthetically pleasing landscape—we settled on a holiday island with beautiful beaches and untouched forests. It's pure therapy for the soul. 2. Relatively affordable properties—we sought a small farm with a modest mortgage. 3. A community of about 40,000 people: large enough for a high school, hospital, basic education, and industry. Yet small enough for positive social oversight—crime is virtually nonexistent here, and when it arises, it's addressed swiftly. 4. A mentality of helping neighbors through tough times. The community unites during disasters or snowstorms. 5. We arrived with few friends and no relatives—that remains the greatest loss. Though we've made many friends and gained a few relatives now, I still miss the brotherhood from my youth, the ones I could call in the middle of the night.