Reintroducing Myself

[Hceux]

Hey!

It's been at least 8 years or perhaps more since I last checked out Cyburbia. Let me give you a quick run down of what has happened since I left here:

1. Decided that I would get into education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing instead of Urban Planning.
2. Completed an Education degree and a diploma in the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
3. Got a job as a teacher for the D/HH
4. Became a caregiver for my mother three weeks after I started working
5. Realized that I've lost myself in a life dedicated to work and caregiving
6. Started created a place for myself in my own life through, for a short time, running and, still to this day, weightlifting.
7. Realized an impossible dream: become a natural bodybuilder and compete in a natural bodybuilding show
8. The fruition of my once impossible dream helped me to start dream bigger.
9. Came to a conclusion that my current job is a dream job for the younger version of myself and isn't so for the person that I've evolved into.
10. Presently trying to figure out how to redirect my career back to geography and/or urban planning.

So, I figured what better place is there than Cyburbia? I remember really enjoying being surrounded with like-minded people who shares a strong interest in things related to geography and urban planning.

I am hoping that being back here will help me to better determine how to get into the field of geography and/or urban planning.

[Maister]

Welcome back! I recall years ago you responded to a comment I made about my having some reluctance at the time to getting hearing aids. Epilogue: I took your advice and decided to get the hearing aids. It was the right decision.

[Hink]

Welcome back. Let us have lamb for dinner. Glad to have you back around these parts!

[JNA]

Welcome Back !

[Hceux]

DUDES!

Thanks for the welcome back. It's awesome to see many names that I forgotten about and recognized.

Maister: thanks for remembering me. I had forgotten that I helped you out with the hearing aids. I'm chuffed that you're happy with your decisions.

I've spent about 30 minutes reading up on threads about whether or not it's wise to complete a Masters program or a college program in Canada in order to get into the field of urban planning and/or geography. Some good discussions there.

I am feeling like that I need to:
- get a better idea about what geography and/or urban planning that I want to get into
- know what I'd like to do in a job
- learn what people do in their jobs
- figure out how I can volunteer in this field

Do you have any recommendations?

[dvdneal]

Welcome back!

I'd say stop by a couple of your local planning commission meetings and talk to the planners. See if a life of public service, plan analysis, and public abuse is what you want.
There is always the option of talking to private companies, less public abuse and more design work involved. I'm sure they get abused by someone though.
You can check with your MPO if you're in a bigger city. I find they do a lot of research and analysis work and work on highway dollars.
Check with some of the GIS people in the city if you like playing with maps. Something I know just enough about to screw up the whole thing.
I'd also look into the difference between city and county planning. I'm finding it's a world of difference, but I can't say I like one over the other. There are pros and cons to both sides.

Good luck, and that care giving thing is murder on your mind and body, my wife just went through it. It's weird how it changes you over time and you need to refocus yourself after it's over.

[Hceux]

Welcome back!

Thanks!

I'd say stop by a couple of your local planning commission meetings and talk to the planners. See if a life of public service, plan analysis, and public abuse is what you want.
There is always the option of talking to private companies, less public abuse and more design work involved. I'm sure they get abused by someone though.
You can check with your MPO if you're in a bigger city. I find they do a lot of research and analysis work and work on highway dollars.
Check with some of the GIS people in the city if you like playing with maps. Something I know just enough about to screw up the whole thing.
I'd also look into the difference between city and county planning. I'm finding it's a world of difference, but I can't say I like one over the other. There are pros and cons to both sides.

Lots of great ideas. I'll have to refer to this at a later time...

Good luck, and that care giving thing is murder on your mind and body, my wife just went through it. It's weird how it changes you over time and you need to refocus yourself after it's over.

Ugh, don't you know it?! I've had it and decided that my mother is going to live on her own so that I can be on my own for the first time in 8 years. She'll be living in a small apt nearby. It'll be a test run to see how she does with living on her own. I'll have to keep my eyes on her for things like finances, hygiene, socialization, hoarding, etc. I'm looking forward to the physical distance between us, though.

So, lately, I've been intrigued by Frederick Olmstead and how his ideas on parks have made such a positive difference in many cities. An article from the Montreal's Gazette had my geek mode on! So, what books would you recommend for me to learn more about Olmstead and planning of parks in cities?