Incredible, I take a bit of a break from the forum and it's all change!
Paul, your glass should certainly not be half empty! for the fact that everything
Ed has said is spot on and like yourself a reality check has happened recently to me and I am grateful of two things my family and the fact I was able to take a month out to be there for them all - secondly that when I finally did arrive back to my own house last Saturday my project was there waiting for my tinkering and it will now be complete when its complete no sooner and no later.
I wish you all the best with the job, the car is looking great now and you have broken the back of it now so weekends of devotion will move it forwards step by step especially with your newly acquired much wider skill set.
Oh and plus all you need to do is to lift that cover and remind yourself that unlike a huge percentage of others that have taken a sabbatical, you didn't waste yours with sitting around watching TV you got up and did something gaining new skills and knowledge.
All the best, Ian