Whatever it was I will always remember the vibrant little state all those years ago. Maybe because the state was so small that we could drive to all the great little areas, restaurants, shops, etc, that everyone has mentioned so easily. I have traveled extensively the last forty years and hands down I think back to those years growing up in RI and would not change a thing and gladly relive those days again. I know things are different but that does not change the way I feel about the state. We return each summer and Christmas and realize things are very much different from those days in the past. Growing up in the sixties, seventies and mid eighties in RI brings back great memories for me. I don't know why I feel so nostalgic reading these posts.