Both of my parents, before they moved into Phoenix for work and school, lived a much more rural lifestyle here in the Southwest than I did. They both moved around a lot as kids but, for the most part, seemed to come back to certain areas. My mom moved between Winslow, Dilkon and Moroni, Utah. My dad lived in Holbrook, Steamboat and Ya-Ta-Hey, New Mexico, which sits just outside of Gallup. Although we often go back to visit these little places, it can still be difficult for me, a suburbanite from the East Valley, to fully comprehend what a small town life is like. For example, I had a graduating class of more than 800 students, a significantly larger population than some of these towns and much larger than my parents’ graduating classes.

Since I love listening to their stories about growing up, I took some time this week to talk with them about their lives growing up in small town Arizona. Here’s some of what they had to say.

1. You grew up away from the lights, noise, traffic, and pollution of the city.

While growing up in the rural areas often meant more dirt and dealing with more sheep manure, it was also far cleaner than city life. Just look at that picture of Phoenix. Would you want to breathe that air while you were still growing?

2. However, there was nothing quite like a day trip into the next biggest town.

Whether it meant getting school supplies, groceries, or to even a trip to the hospital, going to town was always special. If you were good, it could also mean a stop at Dairy Queen on the way back home!

3. You knew everyone in your community.

Live in a town with only 200 people? I would be surprised if you didn’t know most people.

4. You could be out playing all day and no one worried about where you were.

Out at the pond? A neighbor’s house? Distracting a friend who’s supposed to be working? You were probably running around somewhere but also your parents didn’t have to worry about you being gone most of the day.

5. You walked everywhere: to the store, to school, to your friend's house, to grandma's house.

6. Speaking of grandmothers, living in a small town also meant living closer to your relatives.

This is one of the things that makes me wish I did not grow up in the city, because a trip to visit family back home has always meant a four hour (or more) drive one way.

7. School was either really close or very far.

Unless you lived way out in the boonies, chances are your elementary school was a short walk from home. Junior high and high school usually required bussing into another town though.

8. You rarely encountered crime in a small town or rural areas.

9. But when it happened, everyone knew about it.

Hopefully it wasn’t you!

10. You learned the value of developing a good work ethic.

My mom spent part of her childhood on a turkey farm while my dad was often tasked with herding sheep in the summers. They not only learned the responsibilities involved in caring for another being, but also the consequences if they didn't.

Have you had any similar experiences? I love hearing stories about others’ childhoods, so I would love to read your experiences growing up in a small town or rural Arizona.