To any adult, I grew up in a one-story ranch style house, and a double car garage with a grey exterior, with a happy four-person family. But to me I grew up in a fantasy world. Behind my house were the makings of a new housing development. The skeletons of future homes were trapezes for imaginary gymnastic sets. My neighborhood posse and I spent hours upon hours in our own version of the ‘thingfinders club’ only to come home with priceless items. The accessibility of the environment and the frequency in which I took advantage of it helped shape my current land ethic. Although I view the land from a very anthropocentric perspective, I was taught that the environment is meant to be very interactive- it had no hours of availability. I could venture over the manmade mud hills and run through impending backyards at any time I pleased. As I aged, I spent less and less time outside freely gallivanting about. Instead, I spent more time in structured activities outside – running, biking, rollerblading. My land ethic was never explicitly outlined for me. I derived it by observation. I watched my parents recycle and experienced firsthand the joy that came from utilizing the outdoors for family bonding. Now, I see the outdoors as treasured, kind of a novelty in some sorts. I have respect for the land, yes. I see great value in spending time engulfed in nature. But do I view it as superior or even equivalent to me, sadly no.
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