You know you grew up in Los Angeles when...
Born and raised in L.A.? You’re a special (read: native) breed, one who culls awe and respect not only from transplants who just moved here, but also folks who identify as “true-blue Angelenos,” but were really born in Ohio. You, on the other hand, have L.A. pride in your blood. You ventured to Hollywood with fake IDs; you remember when Downtown was less hip, more scary; you’ve seen the City of Angels grow, change and stay the same. Here’s our list of things only true Angeleno natives can relate to.
1. You’re treated like a magical unicorn when meeting L.A. transplants.
2. Your first yoga move was child’s pose… under your desk, in class during an earthquake drill.
5. You understand why people in L.A. are afraid of rain, because you lived through El Niño.
6. You bought weed for the first time on Melrose or the Venice Boardwalk (before it was legal, and even before it was “legal”).
7. Your entire middle school social calendar was booked with quinceañeras and bar/bat mitzvahs. Heated arguments ensued about which themes were better than others (“Casino Night” > “Winter Wonderland”).
21. You used to walk to Thrifty for a square-shaped scoop of ice cream that was only 25 cents. Now you shell out $1.99 at Rite Aid just for the nostalgia.
28. You can always call out what TV shows get wrong about L.A. (We’re talking to you, 90210. Beverly Hills High School is not walking distance from the beach. It will take you at least 30 minutes—probably more—in traffic to drive there.)
31. You tell people you grew up in L.A., even if you really grew up in Palos Verdes, the SGV, North OC, Ventura County...