When you grow up in a small town, you don’t realize just how same old, same old your day-to-day routine can be until you up and leave and see the unstable nature of urban life for yourself.

While the repetitive pattern of small town living can be undeniably comfortable, it takes getting away to realize whether a more dynamic, ever-changing lifestyle is for you.

Here’s what you can expect to see 24/7, 365 in a town that no one beyond a 20 mile radius has ever heard of:

1. The same people, at the same restaurant, at the same time on the daily.

Small town residents have a tendency to be creatures of habit, which is not always a bad thing. Predictability can be boring, yet comforting, depending on your mood… and whether or not you like said regulars.

2. High school reunions at the local gym every day around 7 P.M.

What better time to see old classmates than when you are sweaty and smelly? There’s also nothing better than seeing others having stepped up to the fitness plate since the last time you saw them…and you having spent your time severely slacking. It may be exciting to take a trip down memory lane, but there’s a time and place, and that place is NOT the gym.

3. Your restaurant options are all family-owned, except for the one and only, always fabulous, McDonald’s.

So, do you want pizza, pizza, pizza or pub food? Everyone should love to support small businesses, especially those in their local community, but what does a girl gotta do to get some sushi around here?

4. Trees. Trees. Field. Some more trees.

If you’re looking for a change of scenery…keep driving. Far. However, there really is nothing like a sitting on your porch and watching the sun go down, running around barefoot in your backyard, or going on a run around the reservoir. Sometimes, sidewalks and streetlights just aren’t worth it.

5. If you want to go shopping, the closest strip mall is 20 minutes in either direction, and the nearest mall is a 35-40 minute hike. After one week, you have exhausted all your commercial options.

Online shopping was invented for small town inhabitants. Having limited shopping access is no big deal when you’re just meandering for some new threads, but if you have a specific item in mind, you’ll likely have to travel far and wide to find it.

6. Camo is always “in,” regardless of whether or not you hunt.

I’d say this one is pretty self-explanatory… check any and all of your yearbooks for proof.

7. You pass at least 12 trucks in one cruise around town.

Brand new, beat up, big wheels; you name the truck, a small town’s likely to have it. Odds are, you also know one of the truck’s drivers.

8. The cool hang-out spot is Dunkin Donuts.

*Because it’s the only place TO hang out. Wandering the aisles of Rite Aid or CVS just doesn’t float the cool kids’ boats, so even the coffee-haters out there pretend to love the stuff. Small towns run on Dunkin.

9. You didn’t know what Chipotle was until you left… and upon your return, you discover that the nearest Chipotle is 40 minutes away.

Talk about deprivation. And the worst part? NO ONE IN YOUR TOWN UNDERSTANDS HOW PAINFUL THIS IS.

10. HOAGIES. Not Subs. HOAGIES.

Sorry, #hoagies forever. Subs are hot sandwiches. Pfft.

11. You are constantly discovering new cousins.

When you’re looking for your future Mr. or Mrs., your best bet is to go out at least two towns over. There’s nothing scarier than talking to your grandma about someone and having her say “Oh! Did you know you’re related to them?! Very distant but yep, you’re cousins!”

12. You grandparents went to your high school, as did most of your classmates’ grandparents.

Having walked the same halls that my grandparents once walked, I have to say that I saved my favorite small town fact for last. There’s a reason that the people that grow up here, stay here. There’s just something about a small town that keeps the generations coming, and even if that person isn’t you, you can’t help but love revisiting the place you were born and raised; small towns keep you grounded.