I re-read Kim Stanley Robinson's novel Antarctica a couple of months ago. Characters in the book refer to leaving Antarctica as "going back to the world". To me

I re-read Kim Stanley Robinson's novel Antarctica a couple of months ago. Characters in the book refer to leaving Antarctica as "going back to the world". To me it seems like it might be similar to returning from another planet. I wish I'd had that experience. (Good book, btw. Recommended.)