Not quite so existential, but I took a big hit to my ability to navigate when I left Chicago. Aside from the obvious (grid of streets), I didn't realise why, u

Not quite so existential, but I took a big hit to my ability to navigate when I left Chicago. Aside from the obvious (grid of streets), I didn't realise why, until I was back once and a non-Chicagoan said she was lost. "How can you be lost?" I asked. "The lake is over there, so that's east."