If you’re like me, you grew up in a one-horse town, surrounded by family and friends that have known you since day one. Together, you navigated the ups and downs of high school in your beloved little town. It was safe, sweet, and the perfect place to raise a family, but you swore you’d never come back. However, there are some things about your small town that you never thought you’d miss. I guess it’s true that there really is no place like home.

1. All of your friends live within a 5-mile radius of you, and you’re together 90% of the time.

2. Local festivals, parades, county fairs and pageants are your pride and joy, and everyone who's anyone will be there.

3. You can’t go anywhere without seeing someone you know, which is both a blessing and a curse.

4. Rush hour traffic probably entails getting stuck behind a tractor on your way to work/school.

5. There is nothing more beautiful than a clear night when the sky is full of stars, and you can’t imagine how city dwellers can go their whole lives never experiencing it.

6. Having less than 100 people in your graduating class, and knowing everybody in the school by name, including the janitor.

7. Bonfires are the typical social scene- be there or get roasted.

8. Hearing tourists say “it’s so quaint” and asking for directions, when there is literally only one street in town.

9. Telling people the nearest significant city to your hometown when they ask where you’re from, because chances are they’ve never heard of it.

10. The baristas at the local Starbucks know your name and your order by heart.

11. The police can and will pull you over for going one mile over the speed limit, they have nothing better to do.

12. It’s impossible to date in high school; everyone is either your cousin, your best friend’s ex, or just plain unapproachable.

13. The local movie theater may be ghetto, but the tickets are under $2 and something about the popcorn just tastes better.

14. You’ve spent countless afternoons driving aimlessly down country roads with the windows down and music up.

15. Local produce stands are everywhere, and you swear your state’s fruit is the best of the best.

16. Everyone who’s anyone will be at the Friday night football game supporting their team.

17. You have to to drive at least 45 minutes to the nearest decent shopping mall because Bath and Body Works and Payless just won't cut it.

18. No matter where you go, you always have a place to call home.

Wherever life takes you, no matter how far, remember where you came from. Your hometown is something to be proud of. Be thankful for all the people back home that are like family to you, and be sure to visit when you can. Your hometown is the place you are forever connected to, as it holds a lifetime of precious memories.