I left the Northern Hemisphere for 6 months as I didn't trust myself to be anywhere near my qualifier. I suppose it is like the alcoholics who won't even drive down the street with the Liquor Store. Fortunately and painfully my qualifier found someone else while I was gone. It is really different when you have kids. Ugh.
Of course all my own hang ups came along with me and are still with me decades latter but I think I am better at working with all my issues.
I do speak decent Spanish because of that time.