In addition to all the other cues people have commented on, one thing stands out is it becomes generational knowledge. I bought a home four years ago and when I first toured the property the old man that lived here right away pointed out the directions. The river in front of the home is directly west and runs north to south, the tracks behind the home are east, where the sun rises. Whenever I brought up any questions about the property he needed to first know the direction, this became imprinted on my understanding and communications about the property. When I go down to the basement the directions are clearly marked on the supporting beams so I know immediately how to describe anything with the house. When I speak with my neighbors about most anything to do with theirs or my property I now use directional cues, reinforcing this type of knowledge and communications and it encourages them to do the same going forward. It’s become self-reinforcing generational knowledge.