If you’re like me, you grew up in a small town and didn’t realize how good you had it until a few years after you’d moved away for school, work, or what-have-you. If you’ve never lived in a small town (or if you’re a disgruntled high schooler, like I once was), you may be wondering what it is I’m even talking about. Well…

1. Since there was only one traffic light and virtually no traffic in town, you were never late for anything...
Flickr/Niels Sienaert
You could try playing the "Sorry I'm late, traffic was terrible" card with your teachers, but they could see through your BS (which also taught you a valuable lesson in accountability).
2. ...unless, of course, you got stuck behind a tractor.
Flickr/Ruin Raider
Let's face it: This only happened when you had somewhere you genuinely wanted to be.
3. You had the opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond.
Flickr/briandjan607
Whether you were best a sports, music, or art, you had the opportunity to excel because of the smaller student body.
4. You had to drive to a bigger town to get to the nearest fast food joint.
Flickr/Stephen Melkisethian
...that 10 minute drive to the McDonald's in Salina seems like an eternity when you're STARVING.
5. The entire town always had your back.
Flickr/Patrick Emerson
Even when you come home to visit mom and dad, everyone still knows you and genuinely cares about how you've been!
6. Only in a small town does FFA receive the respect it deserves.
Flickr/US Department of Education
Students in the bigger cities just don't get it...
7. You didn't even bat an eye when you saw somebody ride their horse to school.
Flickr/Steve Harwood
It was probably one of the FFA kids.

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8. The homecoming bonfire was the biggest event of the year.
Flickr/dgblitwin
The entire town was there!
9. The crime rate was SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the nearest cities.
Flickr/ann harkness
A lower crime rate is one of the benefits of knowing whether something/someone seems out of place.
10. You learned at an early age to appreciate the smaller things in life.
Flickr/John Morgan
FIELD TRIP TO THE COSMOSPHERE IN HUTCH?! Yesssssssss!
11. The chances of having a snow day in a small town were significantly higher than that of a city.
Flickr/ThomasLife
Hey, if the bus driver can't pick up the country kids, they HAVE to cancel school!
12. You knew all the cops and they knew you.
Flickr/Thomas Hawk
This helped keep you out of trouble... they *knew* you weren't 21!
13. Going to the city for anything was a thrill.
Flickr/eric wittman
You can't truly appreciate going to Olive Garden and a movie in Wichita if you already live there.
14. Finally, growing up in small town Kansas will give you a sense of community that you won’t find anywhere else.
Flickr/Province of British Columbia
Sure, your neighbors may know literally everything about you and your life, but guess what? They love you and will always welcome you back with open arms!

What was your favorite thing about growing up in a small Kansas town? Tell me in the comments!

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