My home is not even considered a town. I grew up in this itty bitty place called Southampton Township, N.J. I may not have lived there my entire life, but I know enough that it is home.
1. Few come and go.
You start in preschool in the same building that you finish eighth grade. If you play sports, like I did, you play with people who go to nearby schools. Then those teammates will also attend your high school. You graduate high school sitting next to the same person you graduated kindergarten with.
2. Everyone knows everyone.
I promise if something has happened in your life, everyone will find out about it within the hour. It can be as simple as starting to date someone to moving at the end of the month. Everyone will know, and everyone will say something to you.
3. You have a relationship with your teachers and bus drivers.
I remember entering sixth grade. I was finally on the big kid bus, and right away, my bus driver, Mrs. Cindy, asked how my brother was doing. She had gotten close to him when he was younger, and now it was time for her to become close to me. Same goes for teachers.
4. I was able to become unique because I have siblings.
When we first moved to Southampton, I was in fourth grade. I thought it was so cool that I was going to school with my big brother, Travis. I very quickly learned that only meant I needed to learn to make my own mark on this world. I did NOT want to simply be "Travis's little sister" who I originally was. That was how I began to find myself.
5. Neighborhoods are close knit.
You better bet I looked forward to every Friday night of the summer. That meant a party. I was able to see all my friends and my parents' friends. It was always a blast. The end of the summer was marked by a block party that I waited for all year long. It meant an entire day swimming, playing games, and spending time relaxing before my first day of school.
6. A diner on every street corner. (Maybe even more!)
Even though there were that many diners you knew which one you favored. You would go at any time of the day or night because the one of the best parts of a diner is they are open 24 hours a day. Another fabulous factor is the waitresses and waiters know exactly what you want (if you are like me and always order the same meal). At the Red Lion Diner, they never had to bring me a menu because everyone knew that I would be ordering a hot chocolate to drink and Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and whipped cream to eat. I literally have never had anything else there.
7. Fruit and Vegetable stands.
If you wanted to get some good fruit or vegetables you would not be caught dead in a grocery store. You would be at the red fruit stand or the green vegetable stand on the side of the road. You knew everything was freshly picked and ripe as can be. You really could not go wrong.
8. It's quiet and relaxing.
You do not have the hectic noise of the city or the loud drive-by of cars because nobody travels through, and very few new people come. It is never highly populated.
9. Malls?
They really are not an everyday convenience. You tend to have to drive 30 to 45 minutes at the least, but it is completely worth it. You plan a day to be out with the girls or a mother-daughter date. It's better that way, I've learned.
10. Friday Night football games.
Everyone went to play, cheer, or hang out. You may not have stayed in the stadium the entire time, but you were on the school property either watching or running around with all your friends. You left knowing the score of the game after having a great night.
