Three years is a really long time when you push a laptop to the limit, traveling around with you. These considerations shade over into keeping track of who you are and where you are. The nomad was only where he was. Now you are where you are and elsewhere at the same time. I'm in Amsterdam and instead of hanging out smoking dope with the locals, I am on e-mail, which is a pity.
Personal ritual becomes important when everything else is in flux.
It's an hour of thinking. I don't use goggles. I keep my eyes closed. I'm completely unconnected. When I have to pay attention to my surroundings, when other people are in the pool, I hate that.