Kimberly, I laughed when you described your 40,000 strong hometown as tiny. My hometown only had about 4,500 - 5,000.
I joined the army straight from school. That's a whole different life, so I lost contact with all my old school friends. When our 10 year high school reunion came around I was too shy to go by myself. My Dad (who was still a teacher there) said my friends asked after me. I had good friends through primary school and high school, but didn't feel the need to keep contact once I moved away. I only keep touch with a few Army friends now too.