Glad you're back! :)
How do other mustachians maintain their focus and drive when they're disconnected from the community here?
I participate in the community because I enjoy it, but the community doesn't change my habits or who I am. They're habits for a reason.
If your spending changes, then the Mustachian mindset isn't set in. That's the area you need to work on.
I feel like my ability to be energized for mustachianism wanes when I step away from the forums for extended periods. I have one friend who is on board with me, but beyond that, there's not a whole lot of support in my local community.
It's interesting to me that you feel you need "support" for it. I'd suggest you think about why this is.
Assuming you aren't a smoker, do you need "support" to not smoke? Do you go "well my wife doesn't smoke, and my friends don't, so that's really helping me not pick up a cigarette?"
No. You just don't smoke. That's part of who you are.
Now someone who was a former (addict? user?) smoker may need that support, at least initially. But hopefully they get past the point of needing cheerleaders, right?
You may be at that consumerism stage of wanting to blow money for no reason, and need the support to not. Luckily you have the frugal wife, and the friend on board. That's terrific. But what you need to be asking yourself is: how do I move past the stage of needing support, to where mindsets and habits are set in?
That's the stage you want to get to, IMO. :)
Welcome back.