While I didn't grow up in Mayberry I had a very similar experience.
I grew up in a small colonial town in Delaware during the 50's. My father owned the local "mom & pop" drugstore on the main street. The town had many local small businesses on that main street and it seemd that anything we needed could be purchased there.
Everyone knew everyone else. People watched out for each other. If a kid fell off of a bike and skinned his/her knee a stay-at-home would come out and bandage it up and wipe away any tears. If a neighbor was in need everyone pitched in and helped.
Crime was almost non-existant, no-one locked their doors at night and cars were outside with doors unlocked and many times windows down.
I moved away when I went to colleage and have not lived there since. My parents lived there until the both passed away. After my father died my sister, brother and I could not even find a key to the front door of my parents house. Seems there probably never was one.
Sadly those times are long gone. I miss them