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Politics and Activism

11 Signs You Live in Washington, D.C.

Because life in Washington D.C. is like no other.

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11 Signs You Live in Washington, D.C.
Lawrence Lease

There's no doubt that Washington D.C. is a fantastic place to live. It's an exciting place to live; as a resident, you have the opportunity to see firsthand the politics that takes place in forming this country, whether it be through hearing speeches or even witnessing firsthand confirmation hearings or testimony given during political investigations such as Fast & Furious or Benghazi.

Most importantly you have the opportunity to see the cherry blossom festival. If you are privileged enough to live in the nation's capital, enjoy the pride you feel when you walk past Lincoln's Memorial or the Washington Monument. Here are 11 signs you live in Washington, D.C.

1. You go to a sports bar for happy hour and argue about politics and not football


Washington D.C. has become known as the place where sports teams choke. Just this year, we saw the Washington Capitals make the Stanley Cup playoffs but end up losing badly and failing to make the finals. The Washington Wizards were doing great this year but bombed. Last year, the Washington Nationals made the playoffs but choked and failed to even come close to the World Series. Most residents who live in D.C., call different places home and therefore root for a variety of teams. However, since everyone is tied to government, politics become a talking point. The recent testimony from James Comey was like a major sporting event for folks in the nation's capital, bars were showing James Comey instead of local baseball.

2. When you meet someone for the first time, you know what they do and where they stand

Washington D.C. is full of lawyers, consultants, congressional staffers and interns and you can't forget lobbyists. It has been known for people to measure each other up by where they work and who they are for. Once you have that figured out, you begin to analyze their political stances.

3. You drop names faster than most people drop hot potatoes

Living in Washington D.C., you are bound to meet important figures, whether they be politicians, congressional staffers, lobbyists, international leaders. Once this happens, it becomes second nature for people to begin dropping names, to show how important you are. Thanks to the metro, not many people own or drive fancy cars, so name-dropping has become Washington D.C.'s status symbol.

4. You pay too much in parking fines

It's not recommended to drive around in Washington D.C., however, when you do it is always a hassle to find parking. When you live in Washington D.C., you may own the house you live in, but it doesn't always come with a driveway. If you park in D.C., street sweepers come each day and any car that is in the zone will be towed. While signs are up with a sweeper schedule, it's easy to miss.

5. A friend of a friend knows the president

Living in Washington D.C., you are most likely to meet people that work at the White House. So it's only natural to end up knowing someone who knows the president, whether that be a White House elite staff member or just the White House gardener.

6. You know rush hour traffic never ends

Washington D.C. is a hotspot for tourists, and most often tourists will drive their car to downtown Washington D.C. With these tourists come drivers who are not familiar with Washington D.C. rules, aggressive drivers and cab drivers who act like they are lost. With the continuous line of traffic, people often miss their exit and end up cutting each other off.

7. You freak out when the weather is predicted to be snow or rain

You know once snow or rain hits the streets, Washington D.C. will become a ghost town. So right before that happens you head to Lowe's and buy every snowblower available and then head to Costco and grab all the milk and water that will fit in your car.

8. You know the proper way of riding an escalator

Knowing the right way of riding an escalator will protect you from possible harm. During rush hour, you know that you stand on the right and everyone on the left is able to walk up the escalator. Speaking of escalators, you ride the Metro and not the subway.

9. You get pissed when you see a motorcade

Sure, as a tourist, you freak out when you see the presidential limo dart through downtown Washington D.C, and with all the White House officials, diplomats and heads of state, it's a routine occurrence. However, as a resident, you know once you see that limo, traffic will be backed up for blocks.

10. You notice when names and locations are different in shows like “House of Cards,” “Homeland” and “Scandal.”

Everyone enjoys seeing their city or state featured on television, but in Washington D.C., it's often common for filmmakers to shoot in Baltimore or use archive footage of Washington D.C. When you are watching movies and shows like "Homeland" and "House of Cards" you can spot the fake station names or fake locations.

11. You can smell an intern a mile away.


Living in Washington D.C., you can tell who is an intern from a mile away. Riding on the Metro, you will see interns holding their badges like it's their life and even wear them out in public. Most people who have been working in D.C. put their badges away after hours.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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