This reminds me of Mercedes Lackey, and put me right in the Rennaissance Faire I used to work at. That sense of "home" and "not home" is evident! There is an old tune:

Here's a health to this company, and one to my lass, let us drink and be merry all out of one glass, let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain...for this company might never all meet here again.

Develop this! Don't stop!