Mayberry was a lot like many small towns in the 40-60’s. Of course I imagine not many were that idyllic, but so much of our heritage and culture was lost in the 60s that we all long for a return to a simpler, less complicated place.
The genius of that show was that Andy was truly the only adult in town. And he never made a mistake, never did one wrong thing. He was strong, wise and kind.
There was a time when virtue was recognized as good and not despised and ridiculed.
btw, my favorite Goober episode was when he grew a beard and Floyd made him into a great thinker. Drove everyone in town crazy with spouting psuedo-intellectual blather, until Andy got him back down to earth.