- You remember scooping up nuts and seeds from the bulk bins at the health food store while sporting your flip-flops and brightly colored shorts.
- You didn’t need to look up “flip-flops” because they were just a part of your everyday vernacular.
- When it comes to In-N-Out, you confidently order it “Double Double Animal Style” and know exactly what that means.
- You’d gladly grab a shrimp burrito from a roadside shack that resembles a parking attendant’s booth, and you firmly believe that Baja fish tacos are only acceptable on corn tortillas—never flour.
- The sight of teenage girls in eccentric hats and vibrant striped shirts doing their quirky dances doesn’t faze you; you know they’re making lemonade to accompany your Hot Dog on a Stick.
- You find nothing strange about grown men arguing about “snaking my wave, bro.”
- You cherish the moments when friends drop by during lunch, and before you know it, you’re grilling dinner five hours later.
- You don’t think twice about spending a morning at the beach swimming and then hiking in the mountains by afternoon.
- Celebrities are just part of the scenery, but if one tries to skip the line at the local coffee shop, you’re quick to call them out.
- After your journey through road rage, you’ve reached a state of Zen, understanding that it’s not your job to teach the reckless driver a lesson; karma will catch up with them at the next red light.
- You casually drop terms like “my wellness coach” and “my therapist” into everyday conversation.
- You’ve retained phrases like “awesome,” “gnarly,” and “hella” well into your 40s.
- Any time you experience itchy eyes or a scratchy throat, you immediately blame the Santa Anas.
- You’re familiar with the term Sigalert, and it’s a part of your daily lexicon.
- You remember when Trader Joe’s only sold nuts and wine, long before they introduced fancy items like Truffled Macarons.
- You think of Viggo Mortensen as Exene Cervenka’s former spouse, not as Aragorn from the fantasy films.
- Hanging out on Venice Boardwalk, you used to buy beaded jewelry from eccentric stoners before the tourist crowds arrived.
- The sound of skateboard wheels on pavement takes you back to that unforgettable day in 1984 when the boy you liked finally noticed you—and you were totally elated.
- Instead of snow days, you had Third Stage Smog Alert days.
- You had a friend’s uncle who would give you pot without you even asking for it.
- Earthquake drills? You still stand in a doorway, believing it worked back then so why change now?
- You recognize Black Flag as a band, not a pest control service.
- You occasionally hear the tune “Eh-kees ey tey ray ah eff-ay em-ay ba-ha kah-lee-for-nee-ya may-hee-ko” echoing in your mind.
- The voices of Rodney Vega, Sarah Donahue, Richard Blade, and others are instantly recognizable to you. You remember Dr. Drew from his radio days before his television fame.
- Your childhood memories don’t change with the seasons; they all feel the same—sunny, warm, and cloudless, even during the holidays.
In summary, growing up in Southern California shapes a unique experience filled with distinctive food, lifestyle choices, and cultural references that resonate with its residents.