If you’ve always lived/stayed where you grew up

[Worldhasgonemad]

What’s life like?
If you still live and have always lived in the same area you grew up in, near your childhood schools, shops etc. Are you still friends with the people you were friends with when younger, do you get bored at all or is there a special comfort in it?
Or for those who went away and returned to their home town, how is it?

Not really answering your question but I have old friends who live in the same town we grew up in. Never went to university and live very close to family. They see them all the time and socialise mainly with parents and siblings who they see all the time.
They have all commented in the past about 'not having ever been anywhere' but they are definitely wealthier having bought houses young and have had support throughout their adult life.
They married people in the same town so their support network extends to PIL and in law siblings.
Their children socialise with cousins etc.
I can see the benefits and there seem to be very few downfalls.
I have NO support network living away from home and my friendship group is made up of people who have travelled around and lived in different places, been to university, lived abroad etc. Not all of them settle and continue to move on every few years.

I left at 18 and returned at 34. I was living in London (sob, still wish I was) but could not afford the housing I wanted my children to grow up in. Also most of my family are back home so makes sense whilst my kids are growing up.

As soon as they have spread their wings I will be returning to London!

I dont have any friends still living here so if it wasnt for family I would be lonely. On the rare occassion I went out (pre covid) I would bump into someone I knew which was nice for a brief chat.

I like that I know where everything is, good areas to live, what schools I want my boys to attend etc.

Except from uni I have, same as DH. We live a 15 min walk from where I grew up & 15min drive from where he grew up.
My main friendships are the ones from school (same for dh).
I take my dc to the same playground I played at.
Super handy having family close. Often see older family friends when I go to high street etc
I find it comforting because it's what I know as I guess because my parents are immigrants (all other family still abroad) my ties to the country are what I know if that makes sense.

But I was born & raised in S London so not really small town vibe thing going on.
Downside lots of friends have moved further out & I would like more space.