Very true Cleebie! I didn’t realize those things until the Internet came along and I was exposed to different people from different places. We were raised in a very strict Southern Baptist home with traditional Conservative beliefs. The one thing my parents did allow us to do was visit different churches with friends. I went with friends to a local Catholic church and I loved it. The local Holiness church, not so much, especially after they brought out the snakes. LOL There are good and bad people everywhere.
My dad was so strict that he wouldn’t let Mom vote unless she promised to vote Republican. She was a Democrat at the time from up North. She couldn’t drive so if she didn’t promise, she didn’t go. He also followed me on my dates when I was in high school so I didn’t date much. 🙄 If my sister had a date, I had to go with them to chaperone.
Places like this, and others, expose me to different people. I haven’t been out of the state in about 30 years so this is how I “travel”. 😁
Different backgrounds. WWII changed everything. Dad was from VT. Mom was from MO. After the war they met in Vermont while Mom was visiting a sister who had married a GI and moved North with him.
I was born in the Northeast. Family relocated to the West coast for work. Back to the Northeast to be close to family when Grampa passed. Back to California for work. All before I was ten. Nomad life. I have passed through or visited all 50 states and actually lived in 10 of them. VT, NY, GA, OK, CA, AZ, OR, WA, HI and now in Alaska (The best!)
I have lived in Big cities like Los Angeles and Honolulu, and small towns like Williston and Petersburg. Small towns are best, IMO. Small town on an island = PERFECT.