I live in a small town about 25-30 minutes from St. Louis. I’ve lived here all my life. I went through school with the same people I’ve known since kindergarten, I attended most of my brother’s sporting events and occasionally attend community events.

Living in a small town has its perks and its downfalls, especially when you get older, go to college and begin to live life outside of the town you’ve known since you were a baby.

If you live or have lived in a small town at any point in your life, then you can relate to these 14 things.

1. People asking where your town is

"Where are you from?" "Where's that?" are some of the questions I hear when I meet someone new and I try to explain it. Usually, I just say St. Louis because it can be a little hard to explain.

2. The whole town comes together when there's a crisis

The lower part of my town has flooded a few times in the past five years. Every time it floods, the whole town comes together to sandbag and run donation drives.

3. Seeing everyone and their mother at the store

You tell yourself it’ll just be a quick 10 minute trip, but you usually end up seeing someone you went to high school with, their parents, or someone who knows everything about everyone in that town, and you don’t want to be rude so you stop and play catch-up, which ends up being an extra half hour.

4. Attending high school sporting events

My brother is currently still a senior in high school, so I attend some sporting events when I’m not busy with work or school. Sometimes I see some people coming to supporting the team which makes me happy.

5. Your whole family went to the same high school

Literally. My parents met there, I graduated from there and my brother will graduate in the spring.

6. You hear train horns at random

There’s train tracks that aren’t too far from my house and sometimes, usually when I’m trying to sleep, I’ll hear them.

7. You had a designated hangout spot

If the bikes were in someone’s front yard, you knew where all the neighborhood kids were.

8. The town fair was (and still is) the coolest thing

Who doesn’t love carnival rides and cotton candy?

9. There is no such as a "secret"

If something happened over the weekend, everyone knew by first period Monday morning.

10. Getting a new kid in school was really exciting

It can throw you off if there’s a new face in school after seeing the same people every day, especially if you all went to kindergarten together.

11. All your teachers know your sibling

“Do you know Ryan -”
“Yes, he’s my brother.”

12. Your doctor knows your family history

No need to even bother explaining anything.

13. You had no "Friday Night Lights" because your school didn't have a basketball team.

Basketball was where it was at.

14. As much as you talk about leaving, the town is always going to have a place in your heart

No matter how far away you move, you’ll never forget where you came from.