A sense of place

I'm on a listserve of psychologists with a special interest 

in conservation and the environment.  Sometimes the posts

are pretty interesting, but sometimes they leave me scratching

my head.  Today there was a call for papers focusing on "identity,

place, and emotional behavior".  The call acknowledged that there 

was a growing interest in "research investigating the complex

interactions between self and environment".  It went on to

discuss "place attachment, place identity, and self environment

interactions".

Psychologists sure can make something pretty simple sound

complex!  I know, and have known since I was a young child,

that I belonged near the ocean.  I freak when I'm too far inland

for too long.  I remember visiting Colorado, marveling at the

beauty but feeling a little uncomfortable that I was so far from

the coast.  I guess that's "place identity".  I love and feel

a sense of happiness and of being confortable at the coast,

any coast.  That must be "place attachment".  I can't help feeling

upset when I see trash on any beach, people not appreciating

or acting as stewards of the place I love.  Guess that's a self-

environment interaction.  I'm a waterman, surfer, and ocean lover.

That's not simply what I do in my free time, it's who I am.

Maybe I should write a paper for this conference... only if it's

held near the coast though!