Generally, yes. But you have to maintain that awareness while you're on holiday, for example, when you would least expect it. That's hard to do, at least without becoming paranoid.
Actually, after decades in the saddle, it is second nature, no matter what is going on. Not just eyes, but ears, motor sounds, commotions, etc. I tended bar in a biker bar years ago, and those instincts for spotting developing trouble, changes in a crowd, just don't go away. I'm not paranoid, just tuned in to the surroundings.
I do the same out in the boonies, where I will just sit still and let the normal critter noises/activity come back, which were interrupted by my arrival. Then I have a baseline of sounds that are 'normal', and disruptions in that, sudden bird movements, etc., can herald potential trouble. Squirrels and Jays are common tattle tales, and good warning systems.
