Born and Raised in SoCal? Let’s see.
Growing up in this slice of heaven means there’s a way of life, only understood by those who’ve strolled along the Pacific shorelines and know the magic of In-N-Out. From the lingo to the low-key bragging, SoCal natives recognize each other by these subtle signals.
You barely flinch at mild earthquakes
“Oh, was that an earthquake?”
That’s the most you’ll hear after a quick shake. While everyone else freaks out, you’re just sitting there, waiting to see if it’s worth standing up.
Your earthquake kit? It’s somewhere… probably in the garage. Honestly, you’re more worried about the Wi-Fi going out than the ground moving.
You know the unspoken rules of driving here
It’s the 405, the 101, always the. And PCH? No “the,” thank you very much.
Directions are strictly freeway numbers and exits, and if someone asks how far something is, you’re answering in minutes, not miles.
Oh, and don’t even get us started on how to merge—just go.
Say Tujunga, Sepulveda, and La Cañada without blinking
Tourists butcher these names all the time, but you’ve got them down like a pro. Tuh-HUNG-uh. Suh-PUL-vuh-duh. La Cuhn-YA-duh. It’s not hard.
You have vivid memories of your mission project
Oh, the sugar cubes. Every SoCal kid has built a mission, whether it was out of popsicle sticks, Legos, or one of those store-bought kits.
You spent hours perfecting that tiny tiled roof, and even now, you can’t walk by a mission without flashbacks to fourth grade history class.
It’s SoCal, not Cali
If someone calls it “Cali,” you immediately know they’re not from here. Like, it’s not offensive—it’s just wrong. You’ll politely smile, but inside you’re cringing. Real locals know the only people who say “Cali” are tourists and TV writers.
You roll your eyes at the beach stereotype
Everyone thinks SoCal life means endless beach days, but reality hits with a daily drive on the 405, inching along with masses of other cars.
Summer mostly means an inland escape with an occasional bonfire at the beach. Those long, drawn-out preps for a “quick trip” say more about your inland roots than anything.
You measure distance in time
“Yeah, it’s like 20 minutes away.” Every SoCal local knows that means “20 minutes… if there’s no traffic.”
You’ve got freeway shortcuts memorized, you plan around rush hour, and you’ve probably used “the Waze reroute” more times than you can count. A five-mile trip could take 10 minutes or an hour—it’s a gamble every time.
You know exactly how “June gloom” feels
Tourists think SoCal is sunny 24/7, but you know better. Luckily, those cloudy, gray mornings don’t last long.
By noon, the sun’s back, and you’re tossing your hoodie in the backseat. Honestly, it’s the perfect excuse to grab an extra latte and soak in the chill before the summer heat takes over.
In-and-Out is a food group
Double-Double, Animal Style, well-done fries—you’ve got your In-N-Out order down to a science. And yeah, Shake Shack is cute, but nothing beats that iconic palm tree bag and perfectly crispy fries.
You’ve definitely felt superior to NorCal at least once
Look, NorCal is cool or whatever, but there’s always that subtle rivalry.
Whether it’s about traffic, weather, or who has better burritos (it’s us, by the way), you’ve totally thrown shade their way. And don’t even get started on how they say “hella.” SoCal wins every time—no contest.
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