If You’ve Experienced These 10 Things, You’ve Lived in Washington for Far Too Long

If you’ve experienced these 10 things, you’ve likely lived in Washington for far too long:

1. You carry both sunglasses and a raincoat daily due to the state’s famously unpredictable weather.
2. You have a love-hate relationship with the long, gray, and rainy winters.
3. You know the struggle of explaining to outsiders that Seattle is not the entirety of Washington.
4. You have a favorite hiking trail or national park spot and can’t keep it a secret.
5. You have tried to bike or kayak around the San Juan Islands or Puget Sound.
6. You’ve been to the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum or the Museum of Pop Culture multiple times.
7. You understand the pride in Washington’s coffee culture and defend it passionately.
8. You’ve experienced the “rain shadow” effect where one side of the state is sunny while the other is drenched.
9. You know the best spots to pick lavender in Sequim or visit the annual Lavender Festival.
10. You participate in or have attended Leavenworth’s Oktoberfest or other quirky local festivals.

These experiences root you deeply in Washington’s unique blend of vibrant culture, outdoor lifestyle, and distinctive weather patterns, symbolic of long-time residents of the Evergreen State.​

SOURCES

[1](https://stateofwatourism.com/destination-press-kit/arts-culture/)
[2](https://www.britannica.com/place/Washington-state/Cultural-institutions)
[3](https://www.gousa.in/state/washington)
[4](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-things-to-do-in-washington-state)
[5](https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attractions-g28968-Activities-Washington.html)