I grew up in the suburbs of South Jersey in the 80s. A place idyllic with respect to many important aspects of childhood, but also an aggressively cynical place filled with wizened realists who spent their mornings philosophizing on diner bar stools for all who would, or even wouldn’t, care to listen.
As for the idyll, my home town had, at its various points of entrance, signs that read, “Welcome to Medford: Excellence in Public Schools” and “Welcome to Medford: A Great Place to Raise a Family.” And it was, though I didn’t know it at the time.