The Left Coast Life
Living on the edge of the Pacific Ocean comes with a very specific set of cultural quirks that people from the Midwest or East Coast might find a little baffling. Whether you're navigating a foggy morning in Seattle or a sunny afternoon in San Diego, there are some things you just won't get unless you've called this side of the country home. With that in mind, here are 20 West Coast habits.
1. The In-N-Out Hierarchy
You know what you want from the secret menu without even looking at it. People from other places might see an In-N-Out as your ordinary burger joint, but having an Animal Style Double-Double runs deeper than food for a Californian or Oregonian. As far as you're concerned, McDonald's doesn't compare.
2. Measuring Distance in Minutes
You'll never measure distance in miles because that's meaningless to you. Instead, you calculate how long it'll take to drive somewhere based on what time you leave and whether there's going to be an arbitrary traffic jam on the freeway. Twenty minutes could mean two miles or ten.
3. Layers Are Mandatory
Layers are life because you can go from freezing to sweating in a matter of minutes. Because of how unpredictable the weather can be due to the marine layer, it's always best to err on the side of cold until around lunchtime. That's why you keep a sweatshirt or light jacket in the back of your car at all times.
4. Real Mexican Food Expectations
Your expectations for a burrito are probably through the roof. You may even have an opinion about whether fries should be included. You know good Mexican food doesn't come from build-your-own burrito chain restaurants; it comes from hole-in-the-wall spots with fluorescent lighting.
5. Earthquake Indifference
Unless your pictures start falling off the wall, you'll most likely stay seated during an earthquake. Growing up knowing "The Big One" is going to happen one day, small earthquakes aren't really that scary. It's a strange kind of collective calm that only people living on a fault line truly share.
6. The "The" Freeway Rule
If you're from SoCal, especially, you'll always put "the" before the number of the freeway you're taking. You'd never say you're taking I-10; you're definitely hopping on "the 10" to get across town. It's a linguistic quirk that immediately identifies you as a local the second you start giving someone directions.
7. June Gloom Is Real
Summer doesn't immediately mean warm beach days like most tourists think it does. Because of a dense fog that often occurs in June, you know mornings will more than likely be cool and gray. It can be a downside if you're expecting sunny California all year round.
8. Avocado Everything
Even if it costs you an extra two bucks, you're down to squeeze half an avocado on your toast or sandwich. Avocados are practically a food group to us West Coasters, and we demand ripeness at all times. It's something you take for granted until you move away from California.
9. Winter Clothing Confusion
Ever see someone wearing a puffer jacket with sandals? Congratulations, you're from California. Because it rarely dips below fifty degrees, we often see people bundling up while wearing their summer clothes at the same time.
10. The Glory of Public Parks
Some of the best weekends are spent finding a beach cliff or hiking in a huge state park. If you're from the West Coast, you know that we take "taking in the view" to another level. You've likely spent many Saturday mornings searching for a parking spot at a trailhead just to get a few miles of fresh air.
11. Foggy Logic
Living in the Pacific Northwest means you've developed a very specific vocabulary for different types of rain and mist. You don't even bother with an umbrella because the wind will just break it, so you rely entirely on high-quality waterproof shells. Never needing to actually run for cover during a sprinkle is something you wear proudly.
12. Tech Bro Sightings
Growing up in Silicon Valley or mingling among tech bros in Seattle, you realize anyone could be wildly successful, but they probably still wear sweatpants. You've never been able to judge a book by its cover because you can spot an elite businessperson by their raggedy V-neck T-shirt. The "business professional" dress code is pretty much non-existent on the West Coast.
13. Dutch Bros Obsession
You would wait in line for Starbucks if the drive-thru line at Dutch Bros weren't usually longer. Their baristas are kind of a big deal, and you know exactly what you're going to order every time, down to the specific employee who makes it just right. It's a morning ritual that keeps a huge portion of the upper coast caffeinated and happy.
14. Drought Awareness
It's drilled into your mind from a young age not to take long showers and to turn the water off when you brush your teeth. You awkwardly make small talk about your town's reservoir status or lack of snowpack in the mountains as if it's a normal climatic conversation to have over dinner.
15. The "Hella" Factor
Depending on how far north you go in California, this specific slang word becomes a permanent and necessary part of your daily vocabulary. You use it to emphasize absolutely everything, from how "hella cold" it is to how "hella far" you have to drive. It's the unofficial regional dialect.
16. Seasonal Produce Pride
You seriously spoil yourself by being able to buy fresh strawberries, artichokes, oranges, and lemons all year round. Lots of West Coast natives struggle to eat produce outside of California because it just isn't the same as the farmers' market in Sacramento. You didn't know you were a produce snob until you moved away from the best climate in the country.
17. Wildfire Season
"Smoke" becomes an actual thing you can Google and see on the weather radar around June. There's a solemn atmosphere in the air when smoke is in the forecast because it can last for weeks during yet another summer wildfire. Having to pack an evacuation bag once in your lifetime is terrifying.
18. Surfing Subculture
Yep, you probably recognize all the surf breaks near you, and those are the beaches you visit, even if you hate swimming. Carrying a paddleboard down the street or spotting soggy bikinis drying in the park isn't weird; it's expected. Living by the ocean means understanding that high and low tides kind of dictate the town's vibes.
19. Oregon's No-Pump Rule
For the longest time, people from Oregon were famously confused at gas stations because they weren't allowed to pump their own fuel. Although Oregon recently allowed more gas stations to be self-serve, there's nothing like pumping your own gas after crossing the state border. It's one of those Oregon things you didn't realize was unique until you left.
20. The Pacific Sunset
You'll never get tired of watching the sun dip directly into the water, and you know the best colors often happen about ten minutes after the sun actually disappears. There's an overwhelming sense of awe when a packed beach quietly watches one of the best sunsets and appreciates the best coast. You'll never get tired of it.
