It’s easy to recognize a tourist in Massachusetts, but it’s just as easy to spot a long-time local. For those of us who were born and raised in the Bay State, there are plenty of ways we can spot another native. Here are some of the signs that you grew up in Massachusetts.

1. You don’t think anything of wearing flip flops in the morning and boots in the evening.
Pixabay/Free-Photos
The weather here changes at light speed, so you grew up knowing that you can experience all four seasons in 24 hours. Accordingly, you’re not fazed by t-shirts in the morning and sweaters at night.
2. You have to explain to out-of-staters that no, you don’t have a Boston accent.
Pixabay/walsarabi
Not everyone in Massachusetts talks like an extra out of The Boondock Saints. There are plenty of nuanced accents to be found all over Massachusetts, but most of us just think it’s the out-of-staters that sound weird.
3. You’ll always call it soda.
Pixabay/Lernestorod
Doesn’t matter if you move to the Midwest and spend the rest of your life around people who call it "pop." To you, those fizzy, sugary drinks will always be soda.
4. Saltwater is in your blood.
Pixabay/MarkMartins
Sure, there are plenty of great lakes and ponds in Massachusetts. But we’re the Bay State after all, and many of us grew up spending summer days splashing in the sea.
5. You cringe when someone from out of state assumes you live on the coast.
Flickr/Anthony Quintano
There’s a whole state attached to Cape Cod and the coast. Not all Bay Staters live within a quick drive to the shore. Though our love for the sea is pretty universal, plenty of us love an afternoon hike the mountains just as much.

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6. You think fall is almost as good as summer. Almost.
Flickr/MOTT
When most of the year feels like one long cold-snap, summer is a welcome reprieve from the bitter chill. But Massachusetts truly shines in the fall, when the brilliant leaves create the perfect backdrop for hot cider, apple-picking, and cozy nights by the fire.
7. You have strong chowder opinions.
Flickr/Doug Piper
Thick or thin? Oyster crackers mixed in or on the side? Tomatoes or no tomatoes? You know where you stand on this classic Massachusetts dish and you won’t entertain other perspectives. There’s only one way to make great chowder, and it’s your way.
8. You prefer to eat your ice cream with a teeny wooden shovel.
Flickr/Mike Mozart
Hoodsie Cups taste like childhood and are perfect straight out of the cooler at a backyard barbecue. If you grew up in Massachusetts, you’re guaranteed to have fond memories of eating one (or three) of these at birthday parties and at the beach.
9. Massachusetts still feels like where you belong.
Pixabay/Coffee
No matter how far you’ve wandered or where life has taken you, you still feel like Massachusetts is where your heart lives. That’s the truest sign of having been born and raised in the Bay State.
10. You prefer Dunks, Honey Dew, or MaryLou’s coffee over Starbucks any day.
Flickr/Chris Devers
If you have to go to a chain coffee shop, you’d much prefer old Massachusetts standbys than big-name chains from out of state. They’re cheap, tasty, and make you feel like you’re supporting homegrown business.

If you liked this, then check out these 13 bizarre experiences that everyone from Massachusetts has lived through.

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