This issue shares a glimpse into Usagi's emotions and thoughts as he learns the trade of being a seaweed farmer. Truly interesting learning about what seems such a simple throwaway skill and yet Usagi finds a sense of peace and strength in what he finds with these farmers. Even so much as to imagining himself to become a farmer and settling down in a life without constant bloodshed where the fighting is merely to live life. We also see how smart and intuitive Usagi is becoming as he doesn't jump to the same conclusions as everyone else about the neighboring farmers and proves that Yamanaka was the true villain with a simple statement which sets everything up for the truth coming out. I could see Usagi wishing for such a life of hard work and simple pleasures and wondering what if he had chosen another path. This is something we all ponder many times throughout our lives to wonder what if...

It is an old story trope where the warrior settles into a "quiet" life only fooling himself as eventually he is pulled back into being the warrior yet once more. I saw this story as playing off of that idea and Usagi not truly trying to change his ways but instead embracing the moment and experiencing all that he can during this momentary happenstance. He see's and appreciates the glimpse and taste of a life he chose to walk away from and even may hope to one day find such a life again in his future. But he knows his is the way of the warrior and knowing this he devotes himself to helping these people who befriend him and earning his "keep" so to say while staying with them. Working and participating as an equal with them where his being a warrior is not the emphasis and totality of who and what he is. 

Usagi is different from other warriors as he is willing to recognize the worth in other people and their ways of life and that his is not a path that he can simply walk away from. Once chosen, the destination is in some ways predetermined and he must endeavor to follow along his pathway as best he can no matter the obstacles or deviations in that path. His honor and dignity and strength comes from his acknowledgement that he is not better than others and he simply tries to do and give his best trusting that he will find his way in life through doing so wherever "his" path takes him.

Why do any of us continue working in our jobs? Sometimes it may be from no other alternatives? Other times it may be that once we set out upon a chosen path/career/life we become so locked into it as a daily chore, the way that we are meant to be without truly thinking about it or making changes.With a touch of tunnel vision to the point we just do it because it is "all we know to do" or are afraid of taking the risk for changing our circumstances. Safer to continue with what you know than what you don't. Usagi dreamed of and trained to become a samurai warrior. That was as far as he ever thought it out. Once achieving what he dreams of perhaps all he can do is continue being the honorable warrior? He simply knows that he will always be what he is and may be unable to "live" a regular/normal life since he will always carry the warrior within.

It is also a little bit like becoming numb to it all and programmed. I have known people (men and women) who continually make the same "choice" without knowing or intentionally doing it and don't recognize that they did it. Known 2 women who have married/divorced essentially the same type of man 3-4 times because the don't know how to deal with any other type. I have a male friend who since high school defines his life by the woman he is currently with. Without fail he will move from one to another whether in relationships or marriage/divorce and is lost or confused without a woman in his life as a focal point. My father spent his life working for a living: that was his "job" and my mother raised us kids and managed the money for paying the bills and clothing, and food. When she passed away he totally went of the rails emotionally and mentally losing his job and perspective until he basically found another woman who is nearly an exact duplicate of my mother to guide him, help him focus and keep him involved in a life he essentially doesn't know how to cope with. 

I suspect that there are several reasons for Usagi's continued wanderings, none of which really trumps the others. He no longer has Lord Mifune to serve, and agrees with the principle that a samurai should have only one master (although it would be very easy for him to gree to join Noriyuki's house, as was offered to him). A peaceful life would certainly be restful, but Usagi spent many, many years honing his skills... and like any top athlete or fighter, he knows full well that as soon as you stop pushing yourself, you lose your edge. I'm sure Usagi would see it as a great loss not to be on top of his game anymore. Finally, even if he claims to aspire to a quieter life, I'm sure he suspects he'd get bored quickly if he were to become a simple farmer. Adventure is in his blood!

I though it interesting to see him wearing Noriyuki's colours in Senso. That would probably be the one compromise he'd be ready to make: choosing a worthy new master. (Plus he'd be closer to Tomoe, neh?)

For what it's worth, I kinda' sorta' tenuously proved a while back that Usagi may only have been wandering for around six years by this point:

www.classiccomics.org/thread/2923/number-years-usagi-wandering

I can't say enough good things about Kaiso and all the other tales where we learn about Japanese customs and ways of life. There should be a complete Usagi collection in every school!