I was born in North Carolina, moved around for a few years and then came back and have been here for the past 10 years so trust me when I say I'm probably an expert on all things North Carolina summer related. I've been around a time or 12 and I have some thoughts about what it means to be in a North Carolina summer.

1. You're dripping in sweat just from walking to your car and it's only May

2. Ponytails are your new bff because you can't stand having your hair down on your neck

3. The pool is so packed with people it's become standing room only

4. You've already made 18 trips to the lake and it's only halfway through the summer

5. Your ceiling fan is on high 24/7 and it's still not fast enough

6. The sun shades come out of storage

7. You've burnt your hand just putting on your seat belt

8. When your friends come over, you would rather lay on the tile floor than do anything

9. You have a favorite beach and you know exactly how to get there sans-GPS

10. All your friends have their own favorite swimming hole and you argue over which one to go to

11. Checking for ticks becomes a group activity

12. You've walked up on grown adults standing in the freezers at the grocery store

13. You've been the grown adult standing in the freezers at the grocery store

14. You can't exactly afford a Caribbean cruise, but you get the same experience at Emerald Isle and that's good enough for you

15. The only accessory you need is your water bottle

16. Pelicans gets all your business

17. Unless you're a Rita's kind of person

18. You suddenly remember how much sweat the human body can produce-- and all the different spots it comes from

19. Even though it's hot and humid, you wouldn't want to spend it anywhere else