Who grew up country

[rjet]

I grew up in the sticks. Big gardens, canning veggies and cuttin up wood for the winter to keep us warm. Used to shoot rabbits and squirrles across the road and have em for dinner. The roads leading in and out to our home were all dirt and gravel. Coveys of quail would give us kids a dang near heart attack as we walked to our fishing spot. We would go on all night adventures camping by the time we were 10 years old and all worked out fine. We found ourselves in a mess or two but had to figure out a solution on our own. No cell phones, no paved roads, just instinct and chances taken and lessons learned.
Man I miss those days, was real freedom.
Now days, I watch my kids with an eagle eye. They cant cross the street on their own. No way would I let my 12 year old venture off on her own with a sleeping bag on her back for the weekend.
Was just yesterday when I was doing just that, dont know if I got cityfied or things have changed that much....I think things have changed a helluva lot and not for the best.
We were pretty poor, but never knew it. My siblings and I now live in big homes with all the fancy stuff we dreamed of, but I myself long for the old days of being poor and not knowing the difference. Used to dream of being where I am now, now I dream of being where I was.

Life is funny

Guess I had too many margaritas at all the neighbors houses trick or treating tonight.

[rebel_bowhunter]

i grew up in the country but not that country

[rjet]

i grew up in the country but not that country

LOL, Yeah I guess country has different meanings.

[wes122984]

i grew up in a rented doublewide on a couple hundred acres leased. neighbors were miles away. we were poor too and i had no idea. i miss those days. we raised cattle and sheep and there were several years i won champion steer at the state fairs. 4h camp and boy scouts were for the cool kids and i looked forward to every single event we had. raising and showing livestock aint easy.

[brushsniper]

I grew up in the sticks. Big gardens, canning veggies and cuttin up wood for the winter to keep us warm. Used to shoot rabbits and squirrles across the road and have em for dinner. The roads leading in and out to our home were all dirt and gravel. Coveys of quail would give us kids a dang near heart attack as we walked to our fishing spot. We would go on all night adventures camping by the time we were 10 years old and all worked out fine. We found ourselves in a mess or two but had to figure out a solution on our own. No cell phones, no paved roads, just instinct and chances taken and lessons learned.
Man I miss those days, was real freedom.
Now days, I watch my kids with an eagle eye. They cant cross the street on their own. No way would I let my 12 year old venture off on her own with a sleeping bag on her back for the weekend.
Was just yesterday when I was doing just that, dont know if I got cityfied or things have changed that much....I think things have changed a helluva lot and not for the best.
We were pretty poor, but never knew it. My siblings and I now live in big homes with all the fancy stuff we dreamed of, but I myself long for the old days of being poor and not knowing the difference. Used to dream of being where I am now, now I dream of being where I was.

Life is funny

Guess I had too many margaritas at all the neighbors houses trick or treating tonight.

I grew up like that too
I'm sure there are some places like that still but it would take me a lifetime to find it

[Bucks&Broadheads]

I hear what you're saying. I grew up in Centerivlle which has about 900 people and during the summer me and my brother would leave the house after breakfast and just have to be back by dinner. Pretty much never left home with a gun or a fishing pole. Things have changed now, like Bucky Covington sang, "it was different world, when we wer're boys and girls."

[Bily Lovec]

i grew up like that also. My parents stil live that way. Dad is 60 and has 10 acres of garden he tends daily, hunts and fishes for pretty much all they eat...

[az2tx]

I grew up in a small town in Washington state. My we had the woods about 50 ft from my house, 3 lakes within a mile and a good salmon river about 2 miles away. I got my first 22 rifle for my 8th birthday, so after school I'd grab it and be gone. My parents must have thought I was mature enough to handle it, but the local game warden wasn't to thrilled with my doins. I always tried to stay one step ahead but he be caught me one time with 147 salmon on the bank, I was 12 yr old. I would sell them and the roe too, in fact that is how I got my first pair of cowboy boots. It was a good way to grow up

[*DW*]

Oh how I miss those days. I too grew up like that and I miss it. Our kids today will never know that sense of independance of being gone all day and NOT
getting into trouble. Setting traps along the creek and having access to all the neighbors places as long you kept the gates closed and took care of everything.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

It is a different time and a different place from that in which I spent my childhood... My children experienced a little of it but not enough and my grandchildren will never see it... that is sad

[T-Post]

A country boy will always survive. I grew up 13 miles from the nearest town, with 1300 acres to call the backyard. I truly miss those days.

[bowtechhunter]

I hear what you're saying. I grew up in Centerivlle which has about 900 people and during the summer me and my brother would leave the house after breakfast and just have to be back by dinner. Pretty much never left home with a gun or a fishing pole. Things have changed now, like Bucky Covington sang, "it was different world, when we wer're boys and girls."

That is a great song sure brings back memories of when i was a kid. We couldn't have even imagined the things happening i the world now.Things may change even more after Tuesday depends on how many people want the gov. to be their sugar daddy.

[rdwhunter]

I grew up the same way. Now I can't get the wife and kids out of a subdivision. We have a great life but I miss alot of things about living in the country. I don't want the kids to grow up too fast but I do want to move back to the country some day. Great thread makes you think about the great things in the past and future! Thanks rjet!

[BO-N-ARO]

Does the East side of Kansas City count??
I had great friends growing up..... and 50+ years later and 500 miles apart, they still are my best friends. The BIG Italian family was a big part of me growing up with every Sunday and Holiday with them.
It was on the edge of town and we had big river bottom woods close by. I spent many a day wondering in those woods and my share of nights.

Dad and I fished and hunted every chance we had. Dad-Gum I miss that guy!!

Maybe I had the best of both worlds???

[Hollywood]

Same here, grew up on a farm about 10 miles out of town, always seemed to end each day after school ( after chores were almost done )with a gun or a rod & reel in hand. We had several stock tanks & 2 creeks that I used for my playground. It,s good to hear some of the same stories. Myself & several of my close friends would take turns with weekend sleep overs ( they were also farm boys)where we would hunt & fish. Guess looking back, it was like having several different friends sharing hunting leases. I was able to pick up & learn so many things from friends parents also. We used to head out & camp out without many supplies, eat the fish we cought & critters we shot. This is where I learned grilled blackbird is not bad but grilling big ole red crawfish straight out of the creek W/O burping them is horrible. Woke up in the middle of the night one time when we were about 12 covered in ice, (major ice storm took out power in Fayett Co. for days) we finished spending that night in the barn on top of round bales.
SSL - great thread that rekindled some great memories.