Is this really college?

I have seven family members that live within 1 to 10 mins from SMU, so I definitely know what it is like to go to college in the same city that you grew up in. Here are some of the pros and cons I have experienced with this setup:

PROS
-Free laundry service
-Escape from dorm room/apartment/or sorority house
-Double the closet space
-Home-cooked meals
-Get to see your dog!
-You know how to get everywhere…most of the time
-Have lots of connections in the city
-There is always something going on
-If your computer crashes—no worries! You have a backup at home
-You know what the weather is like year-round
-If you are sick you can go home and surround yourself with much needed attention
-Someone always available to bail you out of trouble
-Get to hang out with your siblings

CONS
-Constant phone calls
-Mom’s constant knowledge of your whereabouts
-No spontaneous roadtrips
-Obligation to attend every special family dinner
-Always the designated driver
-Occasional carpool duty for younger siblings
-Don’t get to experience complete freedom
-You don’t get any special attention during breaks (i.e. presents or special dinners) like the kids do that are returning home after spending 6 months away

As you can see, there are some good and bad things to being this close to home, but overall I am really happy that I stayed!