I liked the seat nearer the door.

My friend went straight to his usual seat. I followed him because I was new to the room and assumed he had information I did not. His information was mostly that he liked that seat.

I sat down beside him and folded the corner of my towel under my leg. To leave from there, I would have to step down past the place where we had just come in. The empty lower section was closer to the door. I kept looking at it while pretending to examine the wood.

Before the visit, staff had explained the room and how to leave. I knew I could choose another place. Remembering information and acting on it were apparently separate stages.

I moved while moving was easy.

"I am going to sit down there," I said. I moved my towel to the lower seat, following the room's instructions and leaving the route clear. My feet had a comfortable place to rest and I could reach the exit without first climbing down. My friend glanced over and continued looking at the wall.

I had expected a question. There was none. He was enjoying his own visit and had not appointed himself assessor of mine.

From there I could see where I needed to go when I wanted a break. I stopped spending so much attention on whether I had chosen the correct place.

I asked about the room afterwards.

Outside, I asked staff whether the lower section I had used was intended for sitting and whether I had left enough space for people passing. I had. I also checked how to call for assistance. These were questions about the room in front of me, and I could picture the answers.

My friend said he usually sat where I had first followed him because he had done so on his first visit. This was less scientific than I had imagined.

The next time we went, he took his preferred seat and I took mine. When I wanted a break, I picked up my towel and left. We met afterwards, where he applied considerably more research to choosing somewhere for dinner.

I did not move higher to demonstrate progress. I had already made the useful change: I was choosing a place because it worked for me, and leaving when I wanted to leave.