I know my parents have a lot of regrets, having spent the majority of their lives as expats. Their own parents recently passed away (on both sides) and they were terribly upset about not having been home when it happened, and not having been able to see them more often, etc.

I don't know about you, but for some of us there is less choice in life. People leave home not just to travel the world, or to have more money for a bigger house or whatever...but to earn money to save their families from poverty & dire situations. In that case (which was true for both my parents) I would say that although it may hurt, it is worth the journey. :)