- You remember scooping up grains and nuts in bulk bins at the health food store while rocking your flip-flops and those classic surf shorts.
- You knew exactly what “flip-flops” were without a need for Google.
- When ordering from In-N-Out, you confidently request it “Double Double Animal Style,” and your friends know what you mean.
- You have no reservations about grabbing a shrimp burrito from a roadside shack that resembles a parking attendant’s booth. And let’s be clear: Baja fish tacos should always be on corn tortillas—never flour!
- You chuckle at the teen girls wearing oversized hats and colorful shirts, doing their quirky dance while making lemonade for your Hot Dog on a Stick.
- You find it perfectly normal when guys get heated over someone “snaking their wave, dude.”
- Those casual lunch visits from friends often stretch into dinner prep five hours later, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
- You can swim at the beach in the morning and hike in the mountains by afternoon without blinking an eye.
- You ignore celebrities out in public, except for those who think they can cut in line at the Coffee Bean—those people deserve a public call-out.
- You’ve matured past road rage to a place of Zen, realizing it’s not your job to teach that reckless driver a lesson; karma will handle it—eventually.
- Regular conversations include phrases like “my massage therapist” and “Paleo instructor” as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.
- In your 40s, you still casually drop words like “awesome,” “gnarly,” and “hella” into your everyday vocabulary.
- You attribute every allergy flare-up to the Santa Ana winds, no matter how many times you’ve been told otherwise.
- You remember shopping at Trader Joe’s when it was just nuts and wine—none of this fancy kale-flavored macarons nonsense.
- You think of Viggo Mortensen as Exene Cervenka’s former husband—Aragorn? Who’s that?
- Your teenage hangouts included the Venice Boardwalk, where you bought beaded jewelry from eccentric stoners long before the tourist invasion.
- The sound of skateboard wheels against pavement brings you back to 1984, to when your crush finally noticed you, and you were completely stoked.
- Instead of snow days, you had Third Stage Smog Alert days—who needs snow?
- Your friend’s uncle casually offered you pot, no questions asked.
- Despite all the new safety advice, you still stand in a doorway during earthquakes because that’s what you were taught.
- You know Black Flag isn’t a pest control service, but a legendary punk band.
- Sometimes, you still hear the jingle: “Eh-kees ey tey ray ah eff-ay em-ay ba-ha kah-lee-for-nee-ya may-hee-ko.”
- You can instantly recognize the voices of local radio legends like Tony Street, Carla Steele, and Eddie the Fish, and you remember Dr. Drew from Loveline long before he hit the TV spotlight.
- And when you think back to your childhood, every memory feels the same: sun-soaked, warm, and under a brilliant blue sky—even during Christmas.
This article was originally published on June 22, 2015. For more engaging content, check out this resource.
In summary, growing up in Southern California shapes a unique lifestyle filled with cultural quirks, fond memories, and a special connection to the vibrant lifestyle that defines the region. From food preferences to beach days blending with mountain hikes, the SoCal experience is one of a kind!