Public pool was my babysitter

Absolutely. My 78 sister and I just walked to whatever pool. We grew up in a city (Toronto so safe one) so it was much more accessible. When I was around 8, my family moved to a inner suburb but pools at high school still accessible. We were there all day. Never once got cold despite the first plunge being cold. There was no deep-end test then and diving boards so jumping off that all the time. Went with friends often as well that was available. Often younger than us. Just had one towel. Change our own from the start. Very few had goggles and our eyes would be bloody red and tired from the chlorine for a while after since I always opened my eyes in the water. I take my 9 and 7 year old girls and they very much are more restricted. Granted it's also my fault but also society as no way do pools accept unaccompanied kids let alone allow them to walk or take the bus at this age vs back then. Covid had a big impact on access/development (i taught by older one how to swim in a lake). I was thinking this exact thing this summer at how different it is. My wife immigrated a bit later so wasn't familiar but I keep telling her how it was back then in terms of freedom kids had, and it was completely normal. We also never brought water, snacks. Maybe we bought a little treat somewhere. This includes leaving school whenever we wanted vs they won't release kids unless an adult or teen picks them up. Consequently I do see my kids with more seperation anxiety and dependency vs our generation.