For years I took my vacation at the Pennsic War. A week or ten days in the Middle Ages, no cell phone, no computer, just battles and parties and a glimpse of Valhalla. Several years ago a company called Mystic Mail established a sort of cyber-cafe in the food court area, so those who had to check in with work or pay bills could still get away.

Ok, I told myself, I can check the banking, ensure there are no emergency e-mails, and get back to my vacation...

Sure.

The sad reality is, Mystic Mail makes Pennsic possible for a lot of us, because if we couldn't be available to work, we couldn't get the time off. But it does detract from the brain rest that the War used to be.

Time was I would measure how long I'd been there by how often I found myself designing code in my head. Day 1--still working...Day 3--not quite able to remember the requirements...Day 5--not quite able to remember what a database is...Day 7--what is this code? Some manner of cipher? Day 9--weary, rested, and ready to get back to it, having thought only of how to flank the opposing army in the Woods Battle or how to find the camp hosting the Men Without Pants party...

Alas...