DC natives are a special bunch. Because even though many people live here, few people can truly call themselves natives. If you were lucky enough to grow up in DC, then you know you are unique. You also know that you have experienced some strange side effects from growing up in DC.

1. You always buffer at least 30-45 minutes to get anywhere.
Flickr/Ted Eytan
DC has terrible traffic and a public transportation system that never seems to run on time, so Washingtonians always know to add extra travel time no matter where they are going.
2. You had to decide between the O’s and the Nats.
Flickr/Keith Allison
If you were a baseball fan, you cheered for the Oriole’s. Until the Nationals came on the scene in 2005 and then everyone in DC had to decide who they were going to support.
3. You can weave your way through a crowd like no one else can.
Flickr/Ted Eytan
Whether it’s cutting through a protest or a class field trip, Washingtonians know how to cut through throngs of tourists and get to where they need to go.
4. You become immune to ambulance sirens and construction noise.
Flickr/Tim Evanson
It seems like no matter where you live in DC, you end up dealing with construction somewhere around you and that at some point during the day, ambulance with its sirens on will zoom by.
5. The same goes for airplanes and helicopters.
Flickr/John Sonderman
Between the planes taking off and landing at Reagan Airport and the choppers that fly in around the White House, there’s always something making noise in the sky and most Washingtonians stop hearing it after a while.
6. You are completely incapable of driving in snow.
Flickr/Valerie Hinojosa
We never learned how because everything shuts down during the slightest snowstorm. We also are known to freak out at the slightest chance of snow.
7. You have very strong feelings about your favorite Ethiopian spot and have maybe even got into a debate over it.
Flickr/Raul Pacheco-Vega
DC does Ethiopian food really, really well. We have a few excellent spots but everyone has their favorite and they feel very strongly about it.

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8. You get aggressively annoyed when you see a motorcade.
Flickr/Jason Ippolito
It doesn’t matter where you are, when you start seeing that stretch of cops and cars, you know that you’re going to be waiting around for a while before they let you move.
9. You know a lot about politics and American government.
Flickr/Pierre Selim
Let’s face it, Washingtonians tend to be more informed in politics and the government because it’s right in our backyard. And at least 50% of the people we know are somehow employed by the government.
10. You are also incredibly comfortable discussing politics.
Flickr/justgrimes
Some people in the country hate making politics small talk but in DC, it is small talk.
11. You expect most museums to be free.
Flickr/Seth Mohs
Growing up in a city with 20 free museums can spoil a person and you’ll always be so surprised that other museums charge money.
12. You know that none of the shows that feature DC are actually filmed in DC.
Flickr/Manybits
It may look like DC but none of those shows are filmed here.
13. If you do drive, you have excellent parallel parking skills.
Flickr/Ted Eytan
Unless you want to pay for an expensive parking spot in a garage, you start getting good at parallel parking.
14. And an extra special hatred of potholes.
Flickr/_chrisUK
Doesn’t anyone else think it’s strange that with all the construction in DC, no one can manage to fill a pothole?
15. You never stop loving DC.
Flickr/Zach Stern
No matter what, it’s always the place you come home to.

Are you a true Washingtonian if you didn’t grow up here? Let’s find out! Tell us if you’ve done one of these 15 things every Washingtonian has done at least once.

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