10 Signs You Were Born and Raised in Virginia Beach

You still can’t believe it’s actually illegal, and punishable by a $250 fine, to cuss in public at the oceanfront.

You’d think it might be a joke until you consider all of the “Do Not Tread On Me” license plates, sailors, rednecks, and aspiring rappers that frequent the oceanfront.

You’re accustomed to 55 MPH speed limits, on interstates, which by most states is considered sloth-ishly slow for freeways.

I remember when I moved to California at the age of 18 having to adjust to the 65 and 70 MPH speed limits, which really means 80 MPH.

You have experienced humidity like that of tropical rainforests in the Congo, only people from the west coast don’t believe you.

These are the days when you cannot walk to get the mail without being drenched in sweat. I can see how it might seem strange to out-of-towners, considering we also claim that it can be bone chillingly cold in the winter. In fact, the humidity is what makes our windy 30 degree days feel like 10 degree days in more arid regions.

You know where Pharell and Missy Elliot’s houses are located.

There is some killer real estate in Virginia Beach and lots of famous people are either from here or own real estate including…Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliot, Timberland, Plexico Buress, Gaby Douglass, Teddy Riley, and Ryan Zimmerman, for example.

You don’t realize that you’re a little bit country until people from the west coast or up north call you out on your southern drawl.

This was a huge surprise for me when I moved to California. Honestly, we don’t sound like the people from Georgia, Mississippi, or Texas.

You have an opinion on jet noise.

It’s no secret Virginia Beach is a huge Military town. With the Naval Air Station at Oceana right next to our house and F-18 hornets flying over regularly, often until 10pm, I personally despise jet noise. I understand that people who have the “I LOVE JET NOISE” bumper stickers are supporting our military, but they most likely don’t live in a high decibel area. I have to admit that it’s cool watching them thunder over my condo on Norfolk Ave. in front of an early evening painted sky.

You think all of the other cities and/or boroughs are just too far away to venture to, despite the fact that they are only a 20-30 minute car ride from your house.

Maybe you have had a couple of orange crushes, so you’re probably right. The local boys in blue hand out a whole lot of DUI’s.

You know where to go to watch the sunrise and sunset.

Everyone knows to head to the ocean front to see an epic sunrise, but if you’re from here you’ll have enjoyed cocktails with friends at Chick’s Oyster Bar and the Dockside Restaurant while watching boats go by at golden hour.

You know where to go in the summer to avoid the multitudes of tourists and still enjoy the beach.

For example, the back entrance to First Landing State Park on 64th Street, which you’ll know as the “Redneck Riviera” (while Norfolk residents might refer to it as “The Narrows”), among many other secret places you have.