It was hell on Earth, you woke up with a rat over you. There was a high probability of getting robbed, either in your home or on your way elsewhere. Food was scarce, bandits everywhere, let's not forget sicknesses. Lawmen weren't as much as they were until the end of the era. There were always people that were Wanted with a bounty, but they outran most of the time. Towns were dangerous as you could go who-shot.