18 plus 10 days in 1969. Isn’t that what everyone did back then?
Sure seems that way.
The distance from home was one of the factors in selection of a college. I was fortunate to be selected for a 4 year ROTC scholarship, so I had roughly 300 options.
Gonzaga (Spokane, WA) seemed to be a good fit: small school, good reputation, and 900 miles from home. I was doubly fortunate that there were no family problems, I got along great with my mom and stepfather. I knew that I needed to get out in order to mature.
During my junior year, my stepfather retired and moved to a small town in Oregon. After college, I went in the Army for 8 years, and stayed in El Paso.
My daughter, now 26, is more like me. She found her own apartment after her sophomore year. My 24 YO son is content to live rent free while publicly proclaiming his plans to move out. To put it mildly, it's a major bone of contention with my better half. I've learned to fight the battles that are winnable.
It may not be fair, but when I was his age, I had commanded 3 platoons in Germany. To be living at home at that age was unthinkable to me.