Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply, Aure. Yes, Germany has its advantages, but life there can indeed also be frustrating... and harder than it needs to be. I haven't ruled out the idea of moving elsewhere in the future, but I hope to hang on until I've paid the requisite number of years into Germany's pension system, so that I can draw on that money when I'm older (Otherwise, I'd lose those contributions altogether.). But if a fantastically better opportunity presented itself elsewhere in the meantime, I wouldn't rule that out either.

Wishing you many happy adventures! :)