I moved from the greatest of the plains to the mountains, having now lived in the southern and northern Rockies. Counterintuitively, my world became much much larger after discovering topography.
With no large geographic reference point your experienced world becomes only what you can see to the horizon, often blocked by crops or a section treeline. 3-5 miles out, 8 if you find a hill. And, since it's all patchwork rural farmland, every place you go outside of this radius feels the same. You've seen it before; it's just a rearranging of the same stock roads, treelines, fields, fences, and farm equipment.
Moving to the mountains ruined me for the plains. In a ten-minute walk I can observe a river valley unfold below me with my view uninterrupted until the next mountain group 40 miles away. Ten minutes in the opposite direction and I'm climbing to the top of the world. In the mountains there is always something new to see and another incredible nook to find just around the bend. The topography brings a sense of scale that constantly reminds me just how big and exciting the world actually is.
With no large geographic reference point your experienced world becomes only what you can see to the horizon, often blocked by crops or a section treeline. 3-5 miles out, 8 if you find a hill. And, since it's all patchwork rural farmland, every place you go outside of this radius feels the same. You've seen it before; it's just a rearranging of the same stock roads, treelines, fields, fences, and farm equipment.
Moving to the mountains ruined me for the plains. In a ten-minute walk I can observe a river valley unfold below me with my view uninterrupted until the next mountain group 40 miles away. Ten minutes in the opposite direction and I'm climbing to the top of the world. In the mountains there is always something new to see and another incredible nook to find just around the bend. The topography brings a sense of scale that constantly reminds me just how big and exciting the world actually is.