I grew up in a Big City. In 7th grade, I and my friends, some in 5th and 6th grade, would walk about a mile and a half to the stadium to see rock concerts. Tickets were about $7.00. At the end of the concert, we’d all walk home. It was 11:30-12 midnight. We had no parental supervision, no older siblings with us. We were all street smart and nothing bad ever happened.

There was a heliport a few blocks from my house. I could see the helicopters fly in and out all day. I resolved to go on a ride one day. I walked over there when I was 10 and inquired about ticket prices. $11. Ok. The following summer, I saved up $22 for myself and my 6 year old brother to go. We walked over there on a sunny Saturday and got on the ticket line. Bro got scared at the last minute so I went with some tourists from the line. No one asked me where my parent or guardian was. No one had to sign anything. No one needed ID. My brother was fine by himself for the few minutes of the ride. No one tried to kidnap him. No one asked him where his parents were.

These memories are from a completely different world. Heading to the other side of the city to go to a special park with water slides and horseback riding? The lot of you pre-puberty? No problem! Again, no older sibling or any adult supervision. As long as your parent knew what kids you were with, knew the kids, had their phone numbers, you were good to go. We all had keen senses for weirdos. We knew that “bums” (as they were called back then) were wild cards and to be avoided. We knew to keep our heads on swivels. This type of freedom, and little kids having this type of responsibility for their own safety is unimaginable today.