I think Perl is a great tool, and I appreciate what it has done for my web development, and the control it has given me, but I don't consider it "part of my life." No more than I have ever considered Photoshop (the coolest program I get to use) part of my life. Or my Mac, or a great pale ale, or the Princess Bride. All things that I'm glad to have access to, but I have a hard time considering them "part of my life." I put my wife, my children, my faith in that category. All that to say, like other responders ahead of me, if it is really that important to you, and you are welcome to feel that way, we have Mediations, and other appropriate places here at the Monastery for such meanderings.