At the same time, while I had student friends, I didn't quite live the student life either - my working hours meant that I couldn't take part in various social activities during the week. That has now changed (since I've started my course), so for instance I can do a dance class at 6pm, which wouldn't have been feasible before.
I don't regret the choices I've made, and I'm much happier now than I was a year ago. It's just that some of the implications are a bit disappointing - I've become a bit isolated from my old Durham friends, and I also don't share the same history with ICSF people as they do with each other. Ah well, looking on the bright side, I'm no longer in the limbo state that I occupied for so long - I'm where I want to be, doing what I want to do, so now I should make the most of it. And I can still go travelling once I've started earning again.