Mike, this one's for you
 

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/0...-on-the-court/

Couldn't help thinking of you playing your basketball games at lunch as I read tihs dispatch from Stanley Fish.

Similar to the idea of "flow." I haven't read the book/essay whatever it is, but it talks about happiness coming from activities of deep concentration where you are no longer cognizant of time or thought, but just concentrated activity that leaves you with a deep sense of satisfaction.