I grew up in east Tennessee near a huge lake. We spent our time fishing and swimming in the lake, trout fishing in the tail water below the dam (Norris dam and lake), exploring the multitude of caves in the area, hunting squirrels and rabbits and roaming the woods. We rode our bikes everywhere, 5 miles to fish or 20 it was all the same.
We would meet up and begin our adventures, as long as we were home for supper we had free range to go and do whatever we wanted to. Where I lived there were no drugs, crime, or perverts snatching kids, this was during the 50s and early 60s.
We all played little league baseball in the summers, it was so different from today. I rode my bike to the game with my glove hanging from my handle bar. Parents almost never came to watch, it was all about the kids. With two complete teams their might be 5 parents in the stands watching the game. I never saw a parent contest a call, shout at an ump or player or make an ass of themselves like they do nowadays.
I was in an active Boy Scout troop that camped and hiked all over, we spent a lot of time in the Smoky Mountains.
This childhood shaped my life and made me what I am today. Looking at what we had when I was growing up compared to what's available for today's kids, I feel sorry for them.