A couple more "clouds" to this wonderful silver lining....
1) I hope you are not terribly fond of steak. Unless things have changed lately (which I doubt given "Mad Cow Disease") steaks are pretty few and far between in Germany. After living there a summer, it is the one thing that still sticks in my mind as having been missed the most. But that is not the "wurst" news
. Every city in central Europe seems to have its own variety of beer and wurst, and they are all great. Eat and drink as many different kinds as you can.
2) Don't expect to find Liebefraumilch wine served commonly. A German relative of mine pointed out that the Germans aren't dumb - they keep their best wines at home and export the rest. In addition to beer and wurst, there are a lot of wonderful local wines in Germany. Many of them from the Nekar(sp?) valley region which includes Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg. They have a nice light red wine from that region that you'll never find in the US.
3) Did anyone mention taxes? Ok so they did, but they are still a LOT higher then here in the USA. I'm always happier spending my own money rather then having the government spend it for me.
4) The average medical care in Germany is often described as being higher then in the US, but if you need a specialist or something beyond the average, there is no place like the US. Especially the Boston area where you live now. I have a number of relatives in Germany who have suffered from poor medical treatment for things which would not have been an issue in the US. Hardly a statistical sample, but something to consider. But if you have experience with the Canadian system, then this may not be news.
5) Compared to the US and Canada (even the populated portions), Europe is crowded. The neat thing is that the people are packed into villages and towns surrounded by farmland and open spaces. But try to find someplace where you are away from people - it's hard to do.
6) Finally, don't expect to find as many "hidden bargins" of things that you can't find in the US or Canada. When I was there during college, I remember looking for european releases of albums (am I dating myself???) and things like that. Forgetaboutit! It really is a global market and all the good stuff from over there is available here now and vice versa.
I'd rank these all as minor and say "Go for it!!!" The pluses far outweigh the minuses. You'll have a great time!