Born in 65, grew up in NY Adirondacks. Almost but not quite Leave it to beaver. Sure it had problems, but I miss that era.
My barometer is that what we did as kids ‘normally’ would get our families arrested for abuse/neglect/endangerment today.
How and why did so many of us survive I wonder...
Born in ‘46 in the Adirondacks, too. I had an idyllic childhood where we were free to roam all day until suppertime or dark. Walked to and from evening school activities along with everyone else.
We were never afraid and no one was ever in any danger (other than the usual accidents). I even rode my bike all the way to the fort and spent the day exploring all over the fort grounds many times. Walked up a nearby mountain sometimes on the road and sometimes through the woods. Walked to the beach every day in the summer. We never locked our doors, even when we went out of town and no one ever broke in or stole anything.
My children are a little younger than you and, although they had a much freer childhood than today’s children, there were already lots of restrictions and I wish they could have grown up as I did. I pity my grandchildren and their children... I’m thankful to live in Texas now which is probably as close as you can get to the good ol’ days anymore!