The computer lets us approach in a startling demonstration of general-to-specific. The world becomes a continent becomes a region; a particular city surrounded by mountains; a set of streets; a house on a certain corner, with a brick walk and a tree in the backyard: someone’s home, someone’s place in the world.

The technology is new, but the feeling was known to me already. Whenever we’ve returned to Vermont after traveling, I’ve noticed the closing sense of familiarity and tried to pinpoint it: where does “home” start to feel like home? When does our own local “area” begin? What – besides the arbitrary municipal boundaries – marks out the village? Then we’re suddenly there, moving down the familiar streets past the mini-mart and the falling-down diner, and Lester’s car parked in his driveway – and there’s the neighbor’s cat in the window, and then our house, our flowering crab apple, our back door, my hand on the knob: home. (via Zooming into Home « qarrtsiluni.)

There seems to be a certain personality type that is innately drawn to maps and map like representations. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing maps and floor plans of the places I was familiar with. When I  was older I tended to collect maps…Old maps, new maps, maps from old books, maps from magazine. I would send off for free maps. I covered the walls of my bedroom with maps. State maps, country maps, maps of the moon…Even maps of the Milky Way. All were fair game for my obsession.

I remember the day I discovered the original Microsoft project TerraServer…I was lost for days. I actually paid for a subscription to EarthViewer 3D, that was created by Keyhole, Inc before it was acquired by Google and turned into Google Earth. Back in 2007 I bought a copy of Delorme’s Map software with a GPS unit before we traveled to North Carolina and Virginia. Many times during the week I’ll open both products trying to find a location and get lost for hours exploring.

My fascination even grips me on plane flights. I’ll be glued to the window anytime you can look down and actually see the ground. Trying to match the view below me with the maps in my minds eye. Flying back in to Houston at night was always a treat as I tried to guess exactly what route we were following over the city. I would say my most favorite flight was from Ottawa to Montrial in a small commuter plane many years ago. The flight crew almost outnumbered the passengers on the 14 seat, twin prop airplane. I no longer remember what our altitude was but, at no point in our flight was I not able to make out people on the ground. Flying over that part of Canada with all of the lakes and ponds sparkling in the westerly moving sun was amazing.

Nowadays, whenever I get ready to go somewhere I haven’t been before the first thing I do is take a look at Google Maps and their Street Views. Who would have thought of such a thing ten years ago?

Maybe I can pass on my love of all things map to the next generation of travelers my family is raising…We’ll see, maybe I just need a “mind map”.