Familiar Settings Not The Same

This thread contains a bit of part normal dream part lucid dream experiences, so if a mod feels it should be moved that's understandable, I figured this would be a good place to put it. (sorry for the hassle if ya got to move it)

Pretty much all my dreams are very vivid and borderline lucid. There are reoccurring places that I visit, or end up in, quite often.

Last night I was at one of them. It's a school that I've been called to for a while. It's located high on a mountain in the woods some place. I am not sure if I'm a student, or if I just help out etc. Usually after some time at the school I head out past the soccer field and get to the edge of the school grounds. There's always a fence, and a wooded area on the other side. I usually phase through the fence (If I can't find a gate, or gate keeper). Just past the trees is a cliff's edge dropping into a wide valley with a river in the middle. I've been cliff jumping from there for at least a year or two now. The last time I jumped off I noticed lots of stuff growing in the valley that hadn't been there before, and a very large rose in the center of the river. This time when I went past the fence the cliff was gone, and it looked like the valley had been filled with a muddy grassy marsh.

After this happened I woke myself up and decided to go lucid. Took a couple attempts but I made it back to the school and searched for an official to ask about the cliff. Took a while to find one because I had to stop and regain control. Anyways, once I finally found someone to speak to about the cliff I was told that a landfill was placed there. (I didn't clarify if he meant garbage landfill or just filled by land). I ended lucid and went back to normal dreams.

My question is, has anyone else noticed familiar places changing in such a way, or gone to a place expecting to look a certain way and it turns out different? If so did you just change it back to normal?

I really enjoyed jumping off that particular cliff, but I respect the dream worlds and don’t want to dismantle someone’s work if it had a purpose.

**any input would be greatly appreciated**

Places are always somewhat different in my dreams. I'm sure to document each detail. My most visited place in a lucid dream is the forest. Not only does the time of day and weather change, but the types of trees, the depth of the forest, the topography, soil/ground cover composition, whether or not there's a body of water, the density of trees, the shade, the animal life... Everything is a little different in each dream, but no dream has varied incredibly (except for the ones where the forest is gone!). The tree height remains constant, I've noticed.

A classic example of how even everyday memories distort in dreams.

Places are different because your subconscience wants it to be different. At least I think. The good thing is that with help of your subconscience you can surprise yourself in a good way. You can dream a scenario you wouldn't expect. Sorry, if I'm not on the topic.

thank you abra and cloudOne! your input was most helpful. I feel less worried about the the cliff not being where it was the last time I was there....

however, I had another dream where I was investigating around the same area (the dream area I was speaking of is quite large)... and there has been changes it to it as well... less trees, rivers, valleys, and more buildings...

I think that I will take it as some sort of subconscious dreamsign and accept it as it is \ may be. plus I am sure I can always find another favorite cliff to jump off of :)

thanks you two :) I appreciate the outside perspective....

I'm very glad I could help.