How I Know Im in Seattle (Insert Your City)

In my area:

When I see a stranger walking down the road with a rifle, I wonder what he's hunting instead of calling 911.

Escaped livestock stories are a regular part of the newspaper's police beat.

People look at you funny when you tell them you don't shop at "Walmarts"

How I know I'm in Dallas?

Walking out to my mailbox a couple days ago, I noticed the teenage boy visiting his girlfriend next door had a set of those metal "bull balls" hanging from the back of his truck hitch...only in Texas do the male species feel it is necessary to make the world know they have big balls :-/

You know you are in Anchorage when:

You see bear tracks in your yard and a moose walking down the road while cars wait impatiently for it to pass.

Spring simply means it is finally warm enough out to enjoy the snow

You lose track of time in the summer because the sun never goes down
You lose track of time in the winter because the sun never comes up (ok, we do get a little day light this far south, just not much)

Everyone has a 4 wheeler or snow machine in their yard or driveway, and in some towns that is their only car

Bogs and carharts are considered semi formal, or as we say "Alaskan chic"

You know you're from San Francisco/ the Bay Area when:
* People call it "Frisco" or "San Fran" and you want to strangle them, but instead you just glare at them and say, "It's THE CITY!"
* You don't think it's worth getting under your desk for anything less than a 6.0 earthquake
* You can parallel park on Russian Hill
* You don't even react when you see a naked person walking down the street
* You never leave the house without a jacket, even in July
* You avoid Fisherman's Wharf like the plague
* You wear orange on Fridays during baseball season
* You were surprised to learn that Chinese New Year isn't a federal holiday
* You never go to Starbucks, only Peet's!
* You love Burning Man week, because all the hipsters are out of town
* You know how to navigate The Maze
* You don't own a pair of shorts
* You don't call it sourdough, you call it French bread
* You've never been to Alcatraz
* You never want to move anyplace else except Colma (Colma is where all the cemeteries are ;)

(With credit to SFGate)

Love it, R.. I was just there a couple of weeks ago and could identify with much that you wrote.

Now Portland has marked bike routes next to every major street and on many others too.

We, too, have Starbucks on most street corners tho Seattle's Best seems to be catching up by being served at most other places. Not many individual stores as it is with Starbucks.

Potholes are a main topic in newspapers these days. Seems some think that city is more concerned with bikes and garbage than streets. lol

We're also big into recycling and yard and food waste.

There are many Wal-Marts scattered through out the city. They now sell groceries. Full page ads in the newspaper.

Brew pubs are common.

Whole Foods and New Seasons are common. They're mostly really healthy foods. Organic, etc.

And Seattle's weather is a common topic. "We don't have as much rain as Seattle!"

Norco, CA or "horse town USA"
the kids come to school on horse back or by horse drawn buggy (not like an amish one but a kick @$$ one)
or a golf cart or a mule (off roading kind not the animal although I am sure that has happened)
the elementary school has goats
the city has a come meet the alpachas day
you dont have to go to the zoo to see 50 different kinds of animals you just drive down 5th street.
the strip club had a "we support Mitt Romney" poster for the election (so it wasn't an actual strip club. I am new here and thought it was. it did say "live entertainment and dancing" though)
the stripes to divide the lanes on the road down the main streets are not just white, they are red white and blue.
You can buy bales of hay for $5
the regular grocery store sells 20lb bags of carrots "for horses"
I was embarrassed to have my kid wear her red cowboy boots from gymboree because they were not legit
there are not many sidewalks because there are horsetrails
as such you have to check your shoes ALL THE TIME before you get in the car or go in the house
There are more feed stores than grocery stores
My dogs vet has a waiting room for large animals ie over 200 lbs
Boots jeans a button up and hat are suitable where ever you go

You know you are in Utah when...

It is Sunday and you make it all the way from your house to the store without passing another moving car (they're all parked in the church parking lot)
It is Sunday and dead silent outside...no lawn mowers...no children out playing.
You easily pass 10 churches in a 3 mile drive but have to get on the freeway and drive 10 miles to find ANY coffee shop
Yoga pants and running shoes are acceptable anywhere except church. 'Cause ya know, right after this, you're going for a jog. Or a hike. Or to the park. Or the rec center. Or a Mommy and Me Zumba class.
You explain where you live by telling people what "ward" you are in (even if you aren't religious)
If you need a babysitter, you don't use SitterCity or some other websitem you just call the Young Women's president as she has the names and numbers of every teenaged girl in the area.
If you need ANYTHING (driveway shoveled/sick/need meals/need childcare/need a job, you call the bishop or Relief Society President.
If you move into a new house, you can expect delectable homemade treats delivered to your door by random strangers for at least a month
If you move into a new house, you can expect random strangers to help you unload the moving truck
When you sign up to help in your kid's classroom out of guilt (AWW! If I don't do it, nobody will, and tgen poor Timmy won't get a Halloween party!), you will show up and find that you are 1 of 15 moms standing around for an hour with nothing to do. Because at least half of the moms are stay at home moms.
At least 1 child in your kid's class will be named Nephi, Moroni, or after some other Book of Mormon hero.
If someone tells you they live in the Avenues, you know that they are some sort of hipster and you immediately feel a little "out of depth"
When your kids want to go to the park, you have to take turns picking which park to visit because there are 8 within a short walking distance
A gang of bikers is not a bunch of burly motorcyclists but some ultra fit and somewhat scary (look at those calves!) bicyclers with Lotoja stickers on their helmets
You have lived within 10 minutes of the Great Salt Lake for over 30 years and have not once actually been to it...because you have smelled it. And you just KNOW it's gotta be gross
If you want wine or liquor, you know you better re-check the State Liquor store website for hours, you know from experience that they are closed more than they are open

Fun question!

Lol R.:)
My 1940 house is worth a lot even though my Iowa relatives tell me it would be 60,000 back there.

I look around and can't find my car because 10 other people have the same Volvo.

Uggs and yoga pants are fancy lol.

People own nicer road bikes than cars

Nordstrom kids shoe sales are a big deal.

Whole foods is always crowded...

Parking in Ballard is a night mare and remember Ballard in the 80s I would have never guessed how it would turn so trendy upscale.

It always rains on opening day of boating season!

Greenlake is crowded today because it is not raining.

It's ok to spend a boat load of money at nice fancy restaurant and dress so casual you look like you just got back from a hike.

I think living in Arkansas puts me in about the exact opposite place from you.

Interesting things about where I live:

We don't have a recycling bin - if we want to recycle, we have to separate it and bring it to a recycler

Walmart HQ are in Arkansas so there is mad love for Walmart

I had to sign a waiver not allowing corporal punishment in school.

Everyone wants you to go to their church

Shopping carts are called buggies

We put up stuff when we put it away

I know people that eat squirrel and raccoon.

There are razorback poptarts!

I've not lived here long and we are enjoying ourselves but are adjusting :).

One more thing about Seattle: using your turning signals is optional and it is perfectly ok to drive slightly below speed limit in ANY lane (including the passing and carpool lanes) on the freeway.

Winnipeg is the Slurpee capitol of North America. Even when it is 40 below we are heading to "Sev" (7-11) for a Slurpee.
Winnipeggers are cheap; nobody buys anything unless it is at least 50% off.
We all carry a pair of jumper cables in our car and we know how to use them.
In Winnipeg Dairy Queen is closed November thru April.
We go to socials on the weekend.
We eat dainties and jambusters, we dip chicken fingers in honey dill and we put vinegar on our french fries.

You know you're in San Francisco when:

you know to wear layered clothing (even on the sunniest of days because it won't be long until the fog comes in.

The best burritos are ONLY in the Mission "district"

The cheapest place for produce is either in Chinatown or the Mission district NOT THE FERRY BUILDING

You know that Hunts Donuts was the original and best donut in town

You walk up the hills like any good native San Franciscan instead of taking a Cable Car or the bus....

You know that Mission playground's pool was always referred to as Nickel's Pool....and we played softball, basketball... none of this soccer business... and that the best hot dog could be had at JETS... which was right in front of the park.....

Rice a Roni really isn't the San Francisco treat

You've had at least a family member or friends who worked on fishing boats down at the Wharf.

We refer to neighborhoods as "districts"

You know you're in San Francisco when you go from one district that is 70 degrees and just a few blocks over is much colder...

"French bread" was either Francisco or Colombo... and that Gallo Salami was the norm..

You know you're in and from San Francisco where no matter where you go in the world people say, WOW, YOU'RE FROM SAN FRANCISCO HOW AWESOME............................ and yeah.. I do have to agree.. being a native San Franciscan and calling it my home is pretty damn awesome..

I'd like to add a few to Galwaygirl's list.

You know you live in the Salt Lake City area when...

... you've used your heater and your air conditioner ON THE SAME DAY.
... you've seen people commuting to work on cross country skis on the city streets.
... you know what fry sauce and funeral potatoes are.
... people think that a scone is something puffy and fried.
... it's okay to wear snow boots with anything.
... you know what Pioneer Day is, and understand that it's a bigger deal than the 4th of July.

Great question, it was fun reading the answers! I'll answer from "the Boston area" as there are actually some huge differences just within a radius of a few miles. But some general Eastern Massachusetts qualities:

- there are an embarrassing number of Dunkin Donuts shops. You'll have two shops directly across the street from each other. All directions include some reference to "Dunks."
- we don't talk to each other. It's not rude, it's efficient....
- ...because we're always in a hurry. If a cashier can't manage to speak and ring at the same time, the preference is to shut up and ring up.
- you can be travelling due west on a major highway and be on either 128 north or 93 south at the exact same time...just go with it
- we have rotaries...known as traffic circles or roundabouts elsewhere
- we are supposedly among the most aggressive drivers in the country...what are speed limits and turn signals? And there's no "passing lane" here...we drive in all lanes because they're all full, all the time. On a 3-lane 65 mph highway without traffic, right lane is 70, middle is 80 and left is 80+
- we think our sports teams are the greatest in the world (because they often are). We get annoyed when we go more than a year without a major championship. College sports are totally ignored here. Red Sox are headline news all year long.
- we think our universities and hospitals are the best too (well, they are). We're a pretty arrogant bunch.
- there is a really interesting dichotamy between the old-school, blue-collar, 3rd or 4th generation "I'm obnoxious, ignorant and proud of it" people and the very well educated, upwardly mobile, socially liberal but fiscally conservative "I'm brilliant, rich, obnoxious and proud of it" people. Luckily most of us are in the middle.
- and of couse...the accent. It's funny how even different neighborhoods of Boston have different accents. Those who grew up in the North End sound like they're a planet away from those who grew up in Charlestown and they're a mile away. Most of us who grew up in the 'burbs grew up with a more general "Masshole" accent, which a lot of us lost on purpose. My kids and most of their friends have no discernable accent but I still hear it on a regular basis. At grating and obnoxious as it is, it sounds like home to me.

LOVE this post! I'm from Seattle originally and have been living at the Beach for far too long. Miss that place so much!

No one here wears raincoats or boots or owns an umbrella. When it rains they wear hoodies. It's absurd. I swear I am the only one here that owns a fleece jacket (or even knows what fleece is).

I miss the mountains and green! This place is completely flat at sea level. No change in elevation whatsoever. The one mountain is called Mt Trashmore because it is a refurbished landfill and basically a big hill!

Ok, thanks for the vent about VB. And for the reminders of why I love Seattle and will be moving back someday!!!

I am from a not to awesome burb 26 miles South of you R. J.

Federal Way is the arm pit of Western Washington.

When I was a kid growing up here, I spent every moment I could as deep in Seattle as I could get. I loved city life.

So to save myself the horror of breaking down Fed. Way....I am just going to second everything you posted:)

With my one other hahaha.......A trace of snow will throw us into Winter Storm watch and the news will cover it until the last flake has thawed.

I know I live in South Orange County CA.....

Because I have not seen a Subaru in months,
Because I went to the beach in February
Because many people strollers cost more than my sofa
because high end steak houses still rule and you can scarcely find vegetarian food.
Because I run into various ladies from Housewives of Orange County
Because the 50 year olds look like 40 year olds
Because we don't leave the house without checking traffic
Because the only people riding public transportation look destitute or had one to many DUI's
Because wearing dressy shoes means wearing my flip flops with the rhinestone in it.
Because there is a surf board attached to about 1 in 10 cars in the summer.
Because I see people in their bathing suits at all times in all places
Because half the cars on the freeway are luxury cars
Because 50 degrees is too cold for my cat to go outside
Because if it rains two weekends in a row we don't know what hit us

I am sure I will think of more later but the two big things about St Louis is your status is your high school so doesn't matter who you are when you meet someone you must establish what high school you went to.

The other funny thing is South County, West County but we do not refer to North county and there isn't an East County. I can read any question here asking about something in South County and know the question originate in St Louis.

We are the only city in the US that is separate from the county. Makes us look at lot worse on those stupid safest cities articles you see from time to time. I think this drives our county obsession but I don't know.

Love Jane's answers!

San Diego:

I grew up interested in the traffic report (the 5, the 805, not route or highway), dawn patrol (surf report) and going to TJ was a rite of passage.

I am not from here, but have lived here for 7 years and your list made me laugh! You should go to the Pemco website and suggest some of these for their ad campaign!

We all wear rubber slippers here. And do not call it "flip flops."
Surf board racks on cars.
Everyone wearing surf shorts and t-shirts everywhere, even to parties or Church.
Eating Spam.
Eating Musubis.
Kids don't know what snow is.
Speaking in Pidgin' English
People in all colors and ethnicities. Nothing homogeneous.
'Outsiders' saying how "exotic" looking the kids are here. We just don't know what they are talking about. To us, Hawaiian/Chinese/Japanese/Caucasian/Filipino/Korean/Vietnamese/Greek/African American/Samoan/Tongan kids are normal. And yes, can be a child's entire heritage!
Tourists driving around- how can you tell? They always drive a bright red convertible rental car. And, have sunburn faces and pale pale skin and just look like they are in bliss... or just lost.
People in grocery stores drive their carts around just as bad as they drive their cars out on the street. NO use of blinkers whatsoever!

No toll booths here. Thus far.
Walmart, is de rigueur
LOL