The atmosphere in town is still casual. Kids stroll the street after school, or take a walk in the park or ride bikes on the track behind the grade school.
People wave at each other and stop to chat in mid-day.
Thousands show up for the annual Fourth of July Parade, and fireworks are still legal in town. Benson also praises Carnation as a safer, more wholesome place for his kids. Some youngsters are bored for lack of things to do, but others occupy their time by looking for community-service projects. Inside Carnation Elementary School on a recent afternoon members of Girl Scout Troop 1149 made sewing kits to earn a badge. Their volunteer work includes picking up garbage, clearing storm debris from a trail and donating stuffed animals to the local fire department, to be given to children of accident victims.