How is Human Geography relevant to what we do each day?

Geography is a spatial science which looks at both the physical and human built landscape to describe and try to better understand the relationships and interactions on our planet.  Moreover, geographers are instrumental in helping make better informed decisions when it comes to human activities such as building cities, parks, transportation networks, natural resource extraction, etc.  Human geography, specifically, studies cultural features, such as economic activities, and the urban environment among others (Rubenstein, p. 4).

So what does this mean for us in our everyday lives?  Think about your typical day from the time you get up until the time you go to bed again.  The first thing you might do is use the bathroom.  The water and sewer lines that service your house or apartment are part of a network linked to the municipal water and sewer facilities in your community.  You live in a rural location not connected to city services?  Then the well and septic system you have was designed and installed to ensure a plentiful water source while not invoking contamination from the leach fields of the septic lines.  How about your morning coffee or orange juice?  Those beverages had to be shipped to your local grocery or convenient store in order for you to have access.  This takes transportation networks and routing that needs to be carefully planned so that products can be distributed in an efficient and cost-effective manner from the production areas to the retail centers.  Have to drive to work?  You take advantage of the roads which have been planned and constructed, along with the energy (gasoline or diesel) you use to make your vehicle go.  When you get to work, do you use the elevator, turn on lights in your office or shop, rely on a computer or other electrical equipment to accomplish your duties for the day?  Once again, geography - particularly the human designed and developed portion - plays a crucial role in providing these amenities.  Where are power plants located?  How will transmission lines be set up, and how will they impact the surrounding landscape as they transport energy from the source to the consumer? 

Obviously, I could go on and on here with the connections to our everyday lives and geography.  The interactions and implications are endless.  We are all geographers as we navigate the trials and tribulations of our everyday lives; trying to make the best decisions in order to protect, preserve, yet still benefit from all the wonderful resources our home - planet Earth - has to offer.  As the human population continues to grow (a little over 7 billion and counting), these spatial decisions become even more critical.

References:

Rubenstein, James M. (2013), Contemporary Human Geography. Glenview, IL: Pearson Education, Inc.