Sahib Q:
Though I don't know whether this is the right folder for discussing such things nor has my 485 been approved, I'll go ahead and tell you my feelings about the GC process.
I remember as a graduate student I used to look forward to buying a great car, renting a swank apartment, making long distance trips by car/plane, etc.
I've gone through so much sh*t (which I'll post on this forum after I get my GC) in the GC process that sometimes I wonder whether all this was worth the plastic card. But once you get used to life here it's so darn difficult to imagine returning to India.
As you rightly said, 'life has lost all its spice and there's a dull working routine ahead and no real sense of direction any more'. I'm no longer excited about life after getting a GC as I used to be when I had just applied for it.
Anyway, those were my 2 cents.