Cantabrigians are proud to call this East Coast liberal hub home. There are certain signs that indicate if a person is a Cambridge native or transplant. While all people are accepted in Cambridge those born and raised in the city share certain similarities. We have seen the place transform into an almost unrecognizable place but we love it still all the same.
1. Harvard Square became your 2nd home
Throughout your teenage years and beyond the most common hangout spot has remained Harvard Square. Though it has been bought out by corporate empires and the quaint boutiques remain few and far between, this area will always be filled with nostalgic memories
2. The Mt. Auburn Cemetery doubles as a botanical garden
Most young children are frightened by cemeteries after they learn that headstones mark the places where dead are laid to rest. However, Cantabrigian kids also associate cemeteries with rare plants and old trees.
3. Construction was a constant:
Rude awakenings from construction was a norm. New structures seemed to appear every week and as the years passed the architecture of the city has transformed. For better or for worse? Well that depends on who you ask.
4. You know that not everybody is associated with Harvard (or MIT)
When you tell people you're from Cambridge their first question is usually related to Harvard or MIT. As a Cambridge native you are well aware that Harvard and MIT is only a small subset of the population and the majority who reside in the city have no affiliation to either institution.
5. You're a foodie
Choosing where to eat out was always a difficult decision. Cambridge has an assortment of almost every ethnic food imaginable and countless cafes. Growing up in a city with so much quality food set the bar high for other cities with less choices.
6. Learning to drive was never priority
Since the MBTA runs throughout Cambridge, public transportation is always a convenient (and once cheap) option. Cambridge is also a walking friendly city since nearly everything is relatively close to each other. However, with rising MBTA fares you have now become motivated to learn to drive since the increasing fares seem to be an annual ordeal.
7. All musicians/rappers aspired to book a concert at the Middle East
Any high schooler who booked a concert at The Middle East boasted about the accomplishment to their peers and made sure to invite all their friends to fill up the venue.
8. It still hasn't hit you that the Brattle St. Cinema is no longer
The historical landmark cinema is one of the many beloved places that has closed down since gentrification has appeared.
9. Condos seem more common than single family houses 
The steep cost of Cambridge real estate has caused developers to turn many single family houses into condos in hopes of turning a profit despite rising prices.
10. Pinkberry has nothing on Berryline
You understand firsthand that the quality of a local business is incomparable to national chains particularly when it comes to frozen yogurt.
