Desperately Seeking Nostalgia

To me, Google is synonymous with information. When I want to know something, whether it’s a recipe for dinner, a news article from an important time in history or directions to closest movie theater, Google is where I go to find what I need. Over the years, Google Maps has become more than just a tool, but a gateway into discovering the places close to me and far away.

Around two years ago, I went on a road trip to Toronto, Canada. I remember that I had trouble finding vintage video game stores that had photos of what was available for sale, specifically in Google Maps. So I had to call each store on my list to ask if they had specific items. It wasn’t the worst possible thing, just time consuming. The last store on my list turned out to be completely unaware of their Google Maps listing, let alone how to upload photos. That was my “Ah ha!” moment. From that moment, I wanted to focus on finding stores that sells retro games and technology, and help them build an identity in Google Maps. My passion for photographing vintage video game stores comes from my life long obsession of being a gamer. I’ve owned and lost so many games and consoles over the years, but thankfully a lot of small business owned game stores are sprouting up around the country.

So what is it about owning a piece of vintage hardware or accessory that fuels my passion? I think it all comes down to that moment of nostalgia, even if it is short lived. Millennial’s like myself are under immense amounts of stress and pressure so we look for anything that can create or remind us of happy memories. When I share a photo of something, my goal is that someone else will see it, feel motivated to come in and then share their experience. I like to think that this is part of what makes Google Maps so special, the constant cycle of viewing, visiting and sharing.

Many of us are accidental Local Guides and we had no idea how big the community would be today, but that’s what makes this experience so special. While we can all relate as being a Local Guide, each and every one of us has a unique experience to share, and that’s what I have found to be the most rewarding.

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