When does a person who’s moved to L.A. officially become an Angeleno, anyway?
Now that I’ve lived in L.A. for eight months (how did that happen?!), I feel fairly established in the city and know my way around pretty well. While some locals would say you’ve not a true Angeleno until you’ve lived here for some arbitrary number of years, I’m of the belief that you’re a member of your community as soon as you start actively participating in it. I might’ve only scraped the surface of what L.A. has to offer, but already I’ve already noticed some telltale signs that I’m assimilating.
Here are just a few of the signs that you’re becoming an Angeleno:
Smoothies, tacos and avocados are all a regular part of your diet, thanks to their abundance. (The avocado tree in front of my apartment is arguably the best part about living here.)
You dress up to go out… to Trader Joe’s.
You ask everyone you meet where they’re from, because so many people here aren’t L.A. natives. And despite your best efforts to talk about something more interesting, you inevitably end up commiserating about traffic and talking about the beautiful weather.
You follow stalk food trucks on Twitter. (Grilled Cheese Truck or Let’s Be Frank, anyone?)
You’ve driven or walked to the grocery store only to turn right back around… because you realized you forgot to bring reusable bags and are too cheap to pay 10 cents for a paper bag.
You constantly face FOMO (fear of missing out) because there are so many events, restaurants and neighborhoods to check out, and you can’t possibly visit them all.
You’re more familiar with the map of Los Angeles than you are your own hometown’s because you’ve spent so much time taking alternate routes to avoid traffic.
If there’s one thing you want police to give out more tickets for, it’s all of the fake placeholder license plates half the population seems to be driving around with.
Unless you live on the west side, you’re constantly explaining to friends and relatives back home that the beach is not just steps away from your front door.
You’re excited to have visitors come and stay with you so you have an excuse to do all the touristy things like see the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
You complain about sub-60 degree weather. Seriously.
You never want to leave.
Now make a list about your town/city!
When has someone officially become a Portlander, Austinite, Nashvillian etc.? Angelenos—do you have anything else to add?
