What have I learned about the environment and natural resource management after 45 years living and working in British Columbia? Some good things: importance of teachers, mentors, learning and working outside and in multi-disciplinary teams; value of protected areas, open minds, humour. Some bad things: disrespect for the environment; uncritical thinking; hegemony of neoliberal economics; stain of politics. Perspective on some difficult issues: forestry myth and reality; banality of environmental assessment; science and society; life on the cube farm. Hope persists and with good reason, despite the challenges.