Not so Abnormal by Tony Green

The military has many jobs that require traveling. A person may be required to spend some time away from home. The circumstances vary from peace time where a mission may take only a few days to complete to a war time situation the mission continued until victory is achieved. In most cases, opportunities existed to breathe fresh air and bask in sunlight during moments of non-activity. Not in the case of the submariner.
As a submariner there are times where you are required to go a month or more without breathing fresh air and seeing sunlight. The air is generated from oxygen generators on board which produce oxygen by the distillation of the seawater the submarine travels through.

The air was regulated, however, if mission requirements called for not going to the surface to get fresh air the results were over time the oxygen levels would decrease slightly below to begin to make everyone a little drowsy.

In addition, as the cycle of the rise and setting of the sun sets your sleep patterns the effect of not seeing sunlight is mitigated by the fact the submarine operates on 18 hour days. Once you body gets used to the schedule the sun is barely missed at all. This may be a bit abnormal to most people but simply another day in the life of a submariner.

Once the submarine pulls back in port the first breath of air coupled with the experience of the first warm rays of sunlight are like a rebirth. The return to port signifies a return to normalcy on only to savor the outdoors but also a time for reuniting with loved ones who you have had no contact with. Sometimes though of your loved ones are what keeps you going during the long times while you are away.

In a sense, I guess I was not so abnormal after all.