1. You go to the beach when you’re bored, even in the winter.
You can’t resist taking late night trips to your local beach when there are no parties in town. You obviously bring blankets and food with you.
2. You’ve taken your dogs to the beach...and your friend's.
Along with going to the beach with friends, you’ve taken your dogs there numerous times. Your dogs love the beach almost as much as you do, and you can’t help but snap a pic during your trip there.
3. You know what a real bagel tastes like
New Jersey bagels are literally the bagels of all bagels. Add pork roll, egg, and cheese, and you’re good to go.
4. And don’t forget about the pizza
Us New Jerseyans know that while we have amazing bagels, we have amazing pizza too.
5. Bon Jovi is your neighbor.
If you were lucky enough to grow up in Monmouth County like I was, Bon Jovi’s house was only a few minutes drive away.
6. You hate BENNYs more than anyone.
Once the summer season comes around, our beloved beaches are overrun by out of towners who wear socks with their sandals and don’t know how to drive. The locals of the Jersey beaches often tweet incriminating things about how much they hate these BENNYs and how we want them to leave. Seriously, please leave.
7. You cringe when anyone asks if you know Snooki.
They are all from New York (except Sammi Sweetheart) and do not represent an accurate depiction of our beloved Jerseyans. Please stop asking me if I GTL on the daily.
8. But you actually have met one or two of the cast members.
Unfortunately, I did used to belong to Mike The Situation’s tanning salon (something I am not proud of) which was actually located in my hometown of Middletown and would see him quite often. I was also in Seaside the day that Snooki was arrested for public intoxication at the beach because I was on vacation at the time, but I do not know them. I promise.
9. It’s called pork roll.
Many people from New Jersey are in an intense argument on whether this delicious breakfast meat is called Taylor ham or pork roll. Us from the shore refer to it as its proper name, pork roll.
10. Inkwell Coffeehouse is the place to be.
Located near Monmouth University, the Inkwell Coffeehouse is a hot spot for high school and college kids alike. With exceptional coffee drinks and late night hours, it’s a great place to go to any day of the week, but mostly preferred drunk after a party that went late into the night.
11. No one actually calls it “the shore.”
I have literally never in my life heard someone that actually grew up by the Jersey shore call it “the shore.” It’s no more than a 15-minute drive, and we call it going to the beach like every normal person should.
12. WaWa until I die.
Those who have not been to WaWa have not lived. It is a way of life.
13. Surf Taco is actually your life.
A great place only located along the coast, Surf Taco is home to the world’s greatest tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and my personal favorite, Caesar salads. Us who grew up at the shore have tons and tons of these stickers located somewhere in our bedrooms, waiting to be placed somewhere.
14. Your home away from home is The Stone Pony.
Your all time favorite place to go to a concert is at The Stone Pony, specifically the Summer Stage. Located right behind the Asbury Park Boardwalk, most people often don’t even buy tickets and choose to sit on the beach listening to the actual concert. Boardwalk bars are a great place to pregame for the concert goers over 21 and will continue to be a popular spot for all music lovers.
15. You have a beach house in Lavallette, Seaside, or Ortley.
You either own one or rent one every year with your family. Even though it’s not even far from you and you literally live 10 minutes away from the beach, your family still insists on going on vacation super close to your actual home.
16. Whenever you meet someone else from Jersey, you immediately ask what beach they go to.
It’s almost a marker to see where they actually live or if you have a chance of running into one another during the summer. You secretly judge people on the beaches they go to also…
17. You belonged to a beach club when you were little or babysit kids that do.
Beach clubs are a big part of your life and you either belong to one, have belonged to one, or work at one.
18. When you come home from college, even in the snow, you make your way to the Jersey Shore to take Snapchats with the Jersey Shore geotag.
As soon as you get home, you NEED to go to the beach. It’s literally a magnetic pull between you and the ocean.
19. That geotag can even be seen in the comfort of your home.
Not only do you get this geotag when you’re actually standing on the beach, but also when you’re in your house since you’re so close to it.
20. LBI is a place you visit often
You go there all the time and probably know someone who owns a house along the island. You also have fond memories of the Fantasy Island Amusement Park from when you were a kid.
21. You missed school and had no power for two weeks during Superstorm Sandy.
Even Halloween was canceled, and you're pretty sure you have PTSD, but Jersey will always be #StrongerThanTheStorm.
22. Your after-prom house was either in Seaside or Wildwood.
No matter where you grew up along the Jersey Shore, these after prom destinations were where everyone went. You and all of your friends rented out either a house or a lot of rooms at a really sketchy motel.
