It’s true – when you live in Southern California you develop a few habits that are pretty impossible to stop doing. Whether you’ve lived in SoCal your whole life or only a short time, you will most likely recognize these ten habits that all seem pretty normal to those of us who live here.
1. Cringing when people assume SoCal and NorCal are practically the same.
If you're not from California, it's easy to assume that NorCal and SoCal are practically the same. But please trust us when we say these two parts of California couldn't be more different. From the landscape to the weather and even the kinds of people you'll encounter, the northern and southern parts of the state couldn't be more different.
2. Turning up our noses to Mexican food when we're not in SoCal.
After living in SoCal where Mexican food is as mouthwatering and authentic as what you'd find across the border, we can't help but turn up our noses to Mexican food if it's not made right here in Southern California.
3. Planning a commute to avoid peak traffic times.
It's a known fact that Southern California has some of the nastiest traffic jams around. After experiencing this kind of traffic during daily commutes, it's no wonder we're all in the habit of timing our commutes and errands during off-peak times if at all possible.
4. Wearing sunglasses even when the sun isn't out.
Sunglasses are just an everyday part of SoCal living. Whether the sun is out or the sky is covered in clouds, most Southern Californians always have a pair of shades on the ready.
5. Dressing casually no matter the occasion.
We're casual dressers here in SoCal and we just can't help ourselves. After living in a part of the country where flip-flops and shorts are perfectly acceptable most every day of the week, we simply can't imagine a closet full of anything but casual wear.
6. Putting "The" in front of freeway numbers.
Whether we're taking the 405, the 10 or the 5, we always find ourselves adding the word "The" to the freeway number. If you're not from SoCal it may sound a little weird to hear, but if you're from around here it will always sound completely normal.
7. Stocking up on fresh avocado.
Whether we are putting an avocado on our tacos or we're spreading it on our toast, we just can't get enough of this SoCal fruit that makes everything taste better. For those of us who don't have an avocado tree in the backyard, you can find us at the store stocking up on avocados for all of our favorite meals.
8. Wearing a jacket when the temps drop below 70.
You can always spot a Southern Californian by what they're wearing. 65 degrees outside? Yep, you can be sure we'll be wearing a jacket, a sweater, or maybe even a scarf and gloves.
9. Seeking out the best happy hours.
We love happy hour in SoCal and always seek out the best happy hour menus wherever we go. Whether we're dining close to home or traveling to other parts of the country, we find ourselves looking for the best happy hour deals out there.
10. Telling people directions in minutes not miles.
When you're seeking directions from someone in SoCal, you can expect them to tell you how long it will take you to get there as opposed to how many miles as we all know that traffic can add a lot of unexpected time .
Do any of those habits ring true for you? Please share in the comments what habits you’ve developed after living in Southern California.
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