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Dorothy V

(459 posts)
49. Free range within limits, depending on where we lived. When we lived in base housing, I was young enough I was pretty
Tue Aug 12, 2025, 02:48 PM
Aug 2025

much limited to our cul-de-sac. One place out in the desert there was noplace to go unless I wanted to count tumbleweeds and avoid rattlers. Another place I was forbidden to cross the highway - US395, and was not tempted to break that rule: the town had a speed limit but cars ran down that road like there was no such thing as speed limits, and the town didn't have a PD to enforce anything (the town relied on the County Sheriff and his deputies, and it being the largest county in the US I expect they were spread too thin to pay all that much attention to speeders). Otherwise, I was pretty much all over the place, limited only by how long it would take me to get back home for meals.
Our boys were free range too, but nowadays, if I had my grandkids, no way in hell!

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Free range until age 18. no_hypocrisy Aug 2025 #1
Oh wow, thank you very much for sharing, no_hypocrisy. That seems different. debm55 Aug 2025 #6
semi. mom had free reighn though. AllaN01Bear Aug 2025 #2
Thank you very much, Bear. debm55 Aug 2025 #7
Definitely free range. Glorfindel Aug 2025 #3
True, Glorfindel,, When the sun was directly overhead I knew it was noon, time for lunch and when the Steel Mill whistle debm55 Aug 2025 #10
I was free range. Out after breakfast, home for lunch, gone again, then home for dinner. Polly Hennessey Aug 2025 #4
Thank you very much, Polly Hennessey. That was my schedule too. debm55 Aug 2025 #11
Free range, nature was my savior! Clouds Passing Aug 2025 #5
Same here, Clouds! SheltieLover Aug 2025 #9
Woods, crick, bike, wild berries, fruit trees, treehouse, fort, sleds, snowpeople, tree climbing, swimming..... Clouds Passing Aug 2025 #13
Mine too, Clouds Passing, Mine too. Thank you. debm55 Aug 2025 #12
Especially in the PA country.....millions of lightening bugs in the meadow Clouds Passing Aug 2025 #15
Thank you , Clouds Passing I loved the lightening bugs. too. But when it was dark, I stayed in the yard or in the alley debm55 Aug 2025 #16
Free ranger... SheltieLover Aug 2025 #8
Thank you, my fellow free ranger, SheltieLover. debm55 Aug 2025 #14
Free range, totally. catbyte Aug 2025 #17
HAHAHHAHAHAH. Oh yes, I remember. Thank you very much catbyte. debm55 Aug 2025 #20
Yes, we all were..late 60s/ early 70s. The whole family had no contact all day Demovictory9 Aug 2025 #18
That's is so right. Thank you Demovictory9 debm55 Aug 2025 #19
I think I had a pretty good combo .. FirstLight Aug 2025 #21
Thank you very much, FirstLight. You did have a wonderful childhood. debm55 Aug 2025 #27
downright feral. mopinko Aug 2025 #22
Thank you very much, mopinko. I can remember neighbors watching out for other kids that got hurt or one was bullying the debm55 Aug 2025 #28
btw, my kids were pretty free range, too. mopinko Aug 2025 #42
Thank you, mopinko. I'm afraid that my son was not free range. debm55 Aug 2025 #45
well, i have a son who def wasnt. mopinko Aug 2025 #53
Thank you mopinko, debm55 Aug 2025 #54
Free range. MIButterfly Aug 2025 #23
You are so right, I was never asked "what did you do today" I was nothing really dangerous and it was skates, bikes, debm55 Aug 2025 #29
Free Range and happy in Philadelphia Oppaloopa Aug 2025 #24
Thank you very much, Oppaloopa, I bet that was fun. debm55 Aug 2025 #30
Free range with some MuseRider Aug 2025 #25
That sounds like a wondeerful neighborhood to grow up in. Thank you so much for sharing with us.MuseRider. debm55 Aug 2025 #35
Definitely free range Cloudhopper Aug 2025 #26
Thank you very much, Cloudhopper. Bikes were magic and could take you anyplace. even if it was in your own Neighborhood. debm55 Aug 2025 #36
Farm Topomi Aug 2025 #31
Thank you very much. You did a lot of work. I bet you really enjoyed the time of being free range. Welcome to DU debm55 Aug 2025 #37
Totally free range genxlib Aug 2025 #32
I did have my Keds shoes, But I understand completely what you mean. For me, it was the slag pit from the Steel Mill. debm55 Aug 2025 #38
Free range nuxvomica Aug 2025 #33
Thank you nuxvomica. It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood, debm55 Aug 2025 #40
Free range LogDog75 Aug 2025 #34
That's very interesting. Thank you LogDog75 for sharing with us. It sounds like fun. debm55 Aug 2025 #39
Completely feral, but with accurate and explicit instruction on how not to die. hunter Aug 2025 #41
Thank you hunter, Yes, you were beyond free range. debm55 Aug 2025 #46
Sort Of ProfessorGAC Aug 2025 #43
Yep , ProfessorGAC, You were free range. debm55 Aug 2025 #47
Free range and latchkey, especially during the summer. mwmisses4289 Aug 2025 #44
Thank you mwmisses4289 for your free range memories. debm55 Aug 2025 #48
Free range within limits, depending on where we lived. When we lived in base housing, I was young enough I was pretty Dorothy V Aug 2025 #49
Yes, Dorothy V, times have changed. I agree debm55 Aug 2025 #50
Mostly free range... WestMichRad Aug 2025 #51
hahahaha, thank you, WestMichRad debm55 Aug 2025 #55
we were totally free range mike_c Aug 2025 #52
I love it, You are mike_c a true free ranger. debm55 Aug 2025 #56
FER CHRIS'SAKES HAVEN'T YOU KIDS GOT ANYTHING TO DO OUTSIDE?!? NBachers Aug 2025 #57
Hahaha Thank you, NBachers, debm55 Aug 2025 #60
I was raised in a farm. When not doing chores, I was parented with a system Ziggysmom Aug 2025 #58
Thank you very much for your post, Ziggysmom. I hope you didn't get hurt with no one watching you. debm55 Aug 2025 #61
'Free Range' doesn't even begin to describe my childhood. OldBaldy1701E Aug 2025 #59
Thank you OldBaldy1701E. I agree the absolute feeling that one had on a bike was great as a child. I too miss it. debm55 Aug 2025 #62
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