Google Maps Street View To Stroll Down Memory Lane.

[Barberian]

Does anybody else use Google Maps Street View or other program to explore memories? I've used street view to "visit" places I lived growing up, and places I've lived as an adult. I've "visited" places I've worked, played, spent time at. Some of the memories are good, some bad, but none qualify as true trauma because for me, that happened in the Gulf on carriers. No streets out there, lol.

I just thought I'd mention this for anybody who wanted to see if they could work out some issues by "visiting" places from the safety of their computer chair at home. The detail and amount of memories for me can be at times really surprising by just exploring old neighborhoods, looking at my old houses, and those of my friends, my schools, places I hung out and hid out.

Anybody who doesn't know or can't figure out how to use street view, let me know and I'll make a quick guide to help you get started (hint: use Satellite view and scroll down or use the little guy in the top left of the screen. Streets that have street view will turn blue if you drag him out onto the map). Google is still working on it. It will probably always be a work in progress. They just recently added one of the streets I most wanted. It is a street in front of a house where I lived from 5-10 yrs old. One of my best times in my life.

 

[Venusian]

I use it all the time, not just for memories but to find my way around in places I have never been before. When I don't have a navigator to a new place the landmarks on the map are great.

I admit I have used it to try and find the place where the trauma started but shortly after I moved from there the entire neighbourhood had been torn down and apartment buildings were put up and they are 40 years old now. The only thing left is the school I started grade one in.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

Yes a few times. A few times a year I will look up my grandparents house in their little tiny Midwest town they live in. It is nice to see their house, their backyard, their vegetable gardens. I once saw the 1973 orange truck my grandfather would take me fishing in when I was a child.

That house holds some of the best memories of my childhood in all the depression I was facing.

 

[Nebulustrix]

I have done this. ;) My father was in the military, so we've lived many places, and it can be a great way to reminisce. There are places I've looked up and the street view brought back memories I never knew were there. One of the places I've lived and looked up, I even saw one of my old neighbors in there, because he'd been out on the sidewalk when the pictures were taken! :) My mother still keeps in touch with his wife, so the next time she called, we told her that her husband was on Google maps.

I've never thought to use if for safely revisiting the locations of trauma though... I just might do this.

 

[p-no]

Thanks for this, @Barberian. I never thought of using Google Maps for this reason, but it may well be an option for me with regard to letting go of my grandfather at some stage. He died few years ago and his house was sold, but I can go back there on Google Maps, from a safe distance. Neat idea.