re: Anybody else have this or a similar recurring dream?

I have the self defense dream, but it's part of the broader "architectural" dreams as I call them. My weapon is either not where I think it is or the bad guy is somehow between me and the weapon - sometimes there is shooting, but usually it's just the mental problem solving of me getting to the gun, or calling the cops or getting the family out or whatever - it isn't very common.

The broader "architectural" dreams can be military, educational or both - occasionally it's commercial hotel/mall or combo - it's either a single large building or a large campus - the problem is - the thing changes and it usually becomes like a pathfinding problem - I keep having to stop and get my bearings and figure out how to get where I'm going from where I'm at. I usually figure out it's a dream because the dimensions and layout of the place change and become increasingly complex. Sometimes, its a military barracks or training school and we're trying to get the mission or training event going, but there is a lot of time lost going from place to place under these conditions.

The educational version, I know I haven't been to class in weeks and I'm not sure where the room is, what the assignments are or if I even have the books. I generally figure that one out when I say to myself, "Dude. You haven't been in school in 15 or 20 years."