You are quite right. A good time indeed. It's a time when you can spend money without thinking too much and your first priority is yourself. I miss it too sometimes :)

I think you are lucky. It was really quite new. Every day people miss more and more.

I was torn between primary school and university. All I thought about in elementary school was to play games, to play more games. That's why elementary school was really fun. But university was different. It made me feel a little free to think only of myself while spending my allowance, to be my only priority. I've been to a different country three times in my life. All three were in university. Because what can I do with money? I will either travel or eat. So I wasn't thinking about spending it. But now I feel compelled to save. In short, my priorities have changed a lot. In many ways, my current life is very beautiful, but sometimes one seeks that carefreeness :)

I think I would have made the same choice as you. University is different in every respect. You are both aware of everything and not held responsible for anything. An excellent period.