There’s a North County, a South County, and an East County but no Central County.
You know what a REAL California Burrito is.
You never, under any circumstances call it anything other than “the Gaslamp.”
You know the difference between Claremont Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and Mira Mesa.
Blink 182 wrote the anthem to your childhood.
Every street name is either in Spanish or Spanish related, and you’re surprised when other areas don’t have this.
You can determine the accuracy of someone’s “I’m ghetto” claim by knowing their high school. For example, El Camino High School or Crawford
High School…
You see weather forecasts for four different climate zones in the same county, and aren’t remotely surprised.
You routinely go or have gone to Pat & Oscar’s solely to get breadsticks.
Even better, you still call it Oscar’s.
You’ve even gone to the Gaslamp and marveled at the homeless people mingling with the rich young urbanities.
You’ve gone to Mt. Helix in July and known you still need a jacket.
You’ve tailgated at Qualcomm Stadium, and for bonus points, also tailgated when it was Jack Murphy Stadium.
You’ve been to the Wild Animal Park but can’t remember the last time you went to the Zoo.
You’ve even been on a field trip to see an Imax movie at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.
You still call it the Del Mar Fair.
You say “I’m going to the track” and people know what you mean.
You understand what May-Gray and June-Gloom is.
A famous skateboarder/surfer lives in your town.
“Mossy Nissan! Mossy Nissan! Mossy Nissan Moves You!”
You know what it means when two guys are walking in Hillcrest.
You know what it means when a girl in a short skirt is walking on El Cajon Blvd.
You’ve gotten stuck in Mission/Fashion Valley traffic after a Chargers game.
You know what “The Merge” is, and will plan your entire day around not being on it during rush hour(s).
You’ve ever been to Belmont Park and rode the Big Dipper.
(For North County) You remember the days before the all the big movie theaters opened. And when they did. First the Edwards in San Marcos, then
the Regal in Oceanside, then the Krikorian in Vista, and finally the Regal in Escondido.
You’ve ever taken the Coaster and laughed at people sitting in traffic on the 5.
You can correctly pronounce Tierrasanta, La Jolla, Rancho Penasquitos, SanYsidro, Otay Mesa, and El Cajon.
You’ve ever gone to Sea World on a warm day and sat in the first few rows at the Shamu Show to get cooled off.
You’ve ever been delayed at the Border Checkpoints on the 5 and the 15.
There are more bands than people.
Your house doesn’t have air conditioning.
You know it’s San Diegan, not San Diegoan, or San Diegoite.
Everyone has their favorite beach.
No matter what the weather is, there is always someone walking around in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops.
You live on, near or are surrounded by hills.
You hate tourists and their bad driving. GET OFF THE ROAD NORTH DAKOTA, NOBODY WANTS YOU HERE. LEAVE US ALONE ZONIES! SERIOUSLY.GO HOME.
You have family and or friends that have moved to Arizona or Texas.
There are four distinct seasons: Nice, Nice, Nice, and A Little Chilly.
Your house is worth more than the GNP of some small countries.
You know what MB, OB, and PB stand for.
You used to, and sometimes still do ride the carousel at Seaport Village.
You know someone who doesn’t own pants, and have a neighbor who doesn’t seem to own a shirt.
Your high school had a surf team. And they were awesome.
You know what Santa Anas are, and that they have absolutely nothing to do with the city of Santa Ana.
You don’t consider L.A. as part of SoCal.
L.T. = LaDainian Tomlinson, NOT Lawrence Taylor.
You have ever eaten a REAL Fish Taco.
You know someone who knows someone who knows Reggie Bush.
You remember where you were the day of the Santana High School Shootings.
In elementary school, you were forced down during countless “Duck and Cover” & earthquake drills.
You went to the Sports Arena to watch the Soccers and the Gulls win minor championships.
Your mother ever told you “Don’t go in the water after it rains…you will get sick from the ‘runoff’.”
You can take a freeway from your house to anywhere you want to go.
You hear “Ryan Leaf” and immediately look for someone near to throw something at.
Your childhood dream was to become a Dolphin Trainer at Sea World.
You have ever laughed at crazy people on the trolley. And wished security was just a little bit better…
You have know countless guys under 5’9’’ tall that own huge lifted trucks to account for their shortcomings.
Winter is “Desert Season” for you. Summer is “Fire Season” for you.
You know that 2-2 fastball to Tino Martinez with 2 outs and the bases loaded in the 6th inning of the 1998 World Series was A Strike!!! and think that call may have lost the Pads the series.
You own a surfboard, a dirt bike, a skateboard, a snowboard, and can ride them (well) on the same day.
You think Tony Gwynn is the most beautiful fat-man on the planet (in a completely heterosexual way) and that he is THE GREATEST HITTER OF ALL TIME.
You recognize the smell of Julian Apple Pie.
When it rains, you know by experience, that everyone else on the road will freak out and slow down to a ridiculous speed and piss you off.
Scarves, beanies, and/or uggs are worn as an accessory not for practical purposes