Nature, to me back then, was this unobtainable fenced-off oblivion where mysterious and fantastical things happened. I can still perfectly see miniature self looking through the chain link fence and the simultaneous senses of fear and wonder that it brought me. This all seems very prison-esque, now that I'm typing it out, but I assure you it wasn't. The neighbourhood that I lived was no prison, but a safe haven from the mysterious on the other side of the fence.
The farmer's field was only one side of the area that I lived. Luckily, we had a small forest not too far away. It's gone now, and houses have taken it's place, but I can still remember it perfectly as well. It was dank, it was dense, it was (at the time) so very infinite. It was where all of the action happened; the childhood kisses, the pranks, the parties, the prepubescent shenanigans. Then it was clear cut for houses. Heartbreaking.
I guess this might explain my lack of connection with nature. It's always been the 'thing' on the other side of the fence, or the 'thing' that was in the way of more houses. Though I shouldn't say I have no connection. I absolutely 100% do, but since my teens -- since I moved into the city -- I've always felt more of a connection with the urban. I haven't completely rejected nature, though. In fact, the most impressive aspect to me about cities is their impressive mixture of natural and urban aspects.
Thankfully, this is something that Edmonton does well. Or maybe it's just lucky. We are lucky to have an extensive river valley system within a suitable walking/biking/bussing/driving distance from virtually every corner of the city, and I love that. I can spend my entire summer down there, and not think twice about it.
Just myself, the grass underneath me, and downtown towering above me.
Do you think that it's problematic that for us nature is just this 'thing' ... somewhere 'out there?' Something I have been grappling with in my studies within political science is the way nature has come to exist in our lives. No longer are we part and parcel of nature, rather it's just a place outside the city from which we can exploit all kinds of resources.
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