You know you're from Oregon if....

You call them Filberts and not Hazelnuts.

You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.

You use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.

You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.

You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.

You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.

You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal.

You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain.

You know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye salmon. 

You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima, and Willamette.

You consider swimming an indoor sport.

In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark—all in an eight-hour work day.

You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.

You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain," and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."

You have no concept of humidity without precipitation

You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.

You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through the cloud cover.

You notice, "The mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and you can actually see it.

You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.

You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks on.

You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.

You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or people from california

You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time.

You measure distance in hours.

You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.

You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.

You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer & Elk season (Fall).

Your grandparents drive at 65 mph through a rain storm without flinching.

You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

You carry jumper cables in your pickup and your daughter knows how to use them.

Driving is better in the winter because almost everybody stays home.

You think sexy lingerie is tube socks and flannel pajamas.


You know what and when the Columbus Day storm was. Bonus for having been there.

You go to a coffee bar and see two guys get into a fight over who makes the best India Pale Ale.

You can recount more than five anecdotes about why the East Side is a crime-infested jungle 

... OR ... 

You can list more than five reasons why the West Side is a boring, snobby, white-bread suburb.

You know what is in between the East Side and the West Side, and how to pronounce it.

You are sitting at a red light surrounded by Subaru Legacy Outbacks.

You live equidistant to a symphony hall, a winery, and a volcano.

Your children learned to walk in Birkenstocks. 

You consider something a "hill" (not a mountain) if it doesn't have snow on it or has not recently erupted, regardless of its altitude. 

You find a wallet with $500 and give it back to the owner.

You know a bride & groom that registered at REI. 

Every day is casual Friday. 

Hear the word "ferry" and think of Scholls and Taylors rather than boats and long waits. 

Know at least eight people who work for Intel or Nike, or used to work for Tektronix. 

You believe swimming is not a sport but a survival skill to prevent boating deaths. 

Obey all traffic laws except "keep right unless passing."

Are amazed by an accurate weather forecast.

You know that Burgerville has the best hamburgers...ever.

You know that Kindergarten Cop and The Goonies were filmed in Astoria and Cannon Beach, respectively.

You know where Astoria is, and how to say it.

You love going to the Original Pancake House....because its original....

You take pride in Lewis and Clark and know who Sacagawea is.

Were excited when the Crater Lake, Oregon quarter came out.

You love The Shins...because they live here.

You love the Decemberists....because they are from here...and live here.

You stopped going to the Tigard theater since they built Bridgeport and now it stands empty.

You think Bridgeport has terrible parking.

You love the smell of rain.

You shop at New Season's because the question of 'paper or plastic?' isn't an issue since they don't even carry plastic. And besides, you brought your own bag anyway.

You understand the joys of spandex as a layer under pants

You dress in layers (tank top, t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, jacket, etc).

You have been to camp 18.

You listen to Kink FM 102.

You remember Ramblin' Rod...and you laugh because you used to watch it....or because you were on it for your birthday.

You play Tony Hawks Pro Skater and because you recognize Burnside.

You are more concerned about packing a sweatshirt or a jacket when going to the beach than packing a bathing suit.

You watch only the opening scene from "The Shining" because it was filmed at Timberline Lodge.

You say "pop" instead of "soda."

You believe that Enchanted Forest is Oregon's disneyland.

The red nose on the stag on the 'Made in Oregon sign' starts your holiday season

You make subtle remarks about washington drivers, but save your real road rage for california drivers.

You know The Shane Company's radio commercial word for word -- "...Across the freeway from the Washington Square mall...open Monday through Friday til 8, Saturday and Sunday til 5...also available on shaneco.com."

You were thrilled that Scott Thomason finally stopped putting his face on the back of his cars.

Drivers must yield to pedestrians who are standing on the sidewalk.

Drivers may not pump their own gas.

It is illegal to buy or sell marijuana, but it is legal to smoke it on your own property.

Can you add any others? 

~K!

Comments

[Blessed Ma 2 - 4]

wow, those are great... and yes, I'm thrilled to not see Thomason's face anymore! We went out to OMSI with my Dad *from NY* last week and he was shocked to see that he was the only one his age that wasn't in jeans. He thought it was because he was getting old, I told him, no, it's just because they are Oregonians and you aren't.

What about Tillamook - you can actually tell the difference between Tillamook cheddar and cheese made in those other places.

Everyday in winter is a frizzy bad hair day

[Blessed Ma 2 - 4]

If you hear Vancouver, you have to clarify if it is Washtington or British Columbia

[Stephanie]

...if your children ask the "attendant" to fill the gas tank with regular as they are playing pretend cars.

(My niece (from Washington) was totally baffled by my daughter's refusal to "pump" her own gas! I laughed and laughed.)

[Jenny Norris]

You say Aloha and don't mean "hello" in Hawaiian.

You think that pasty-white is a pretty good tan.

you park your cars in the driveway and leave them unlocked.

You don't know your neighbor's names but know the Brewmaster personally at your favorite McMenamins.

You remember when that "Made in Oregon" sign used to read "White Stag Sportswear"

You know that in the Hollywood District you won't see any celebrities.

[mykidsmom]

Wow, that's quite a list! I'm not an original Oregonian, but I'm married to one. And I've acclimated for the most part:) It took me years to get used to the rain, but now I hold all those who use umbrellas in derision,lol. It sure is a beautiful state, no one can argue with that.

[mykidsmom]

Oh, I had to add the fact that we don't pay sales tax here. When I traveled back to the Midwest, I repeatedly kept giving them (cashiers) exact cash for everything. I'm telling you, a few of them acted as if I was purposely trying to short-change them. And saying I was from Oregon and that we don't have sales tax here didn't seem to make them any less suspicious.

[Tiffany]

~In Oregon "green" is not just the color everywhere you look, it is a state of mind.
~It is dangerous to drive an SUV. Personally, I keep my head down and don't meet anyone's eyes when I drive ours.

YUMMY! Continental Crepes and Georgian Pancakes are my fave.

Did your girls get Pop Shoppe Pop? Ramblin Rod gave it away sometimes. My dad used to buy it on our week to go visit him.I liked the grape best.

[Rozanne]

These are all great! And true.

[Cosmic Charlie]

In the rain, a true Oregonian takes off his (or her) ballcap and puts it in a plastic bag. Your hair will dry, but a good cap is hard to find.

Also, you know the only *real* professional wrestling was promoted by Don Owen and Sandy Barr. All that other stuff? Pfft!