Cities and towns all across the country have their quirks and the things that make them unique. But these things are also funny. Here are 12 funny memes I found on the web about my hometown of Olympia, WA. Watch the video below.
As a Realtor, I work with many people who are relocating here from other parts of the country, and this can help them understand us locals.
1. What people think I mean when I say I’m from Washington. What I actually mean when I say I’m from Washington.
When you tell people you are moving to Washington or you are from Washington, they think you mean Washington DC. So get used to saying, I live in Washington STATE.
2. Oh, you’re from Olympia? You mean Seattle? No….
Along these geography lines, if you tell people you live in Olympia, they will think that is Seattle. No….Seattle is about 60 miles north of here but it might as well be in another country. Seattle and Olympia are quite different.
3. The weather is a big topic here in Olympia.
Not that it is unusually cold here, it’s more about the sun. So when the sun is out, we really don’t care what the temperature is – we will probably head to the beach!
4. Ok, this one will be very helpful to you if you want to fit in: Do not use an umbrella.
Umbrellas are for tourists. Just wear your Northface waterproof jacket in the rain and get soaking wet as you are ducking into a coffee shop for your triple shot espresso mocha no whip latte.
5. I’m looking forward to summer. The rain gets warmer.
The amount of rain we get can be a lot but honestly it’s not that bad. What gets people is that it just is grey. It’s not like it rains and then the sun comes out. It’s just grey and gloomy and rainy. After months of the rain, it certainly can get old. But our summers are awesome. And then they tell us we are in a drought. Really?
6. A dusting of snow will shut down the entire region.
I am not kidding about this. This is for real. I think Olympia has one snowplow and maybe some deicer, but when it snows or when it is icy, you are on your own. And the locals freak out. Our roads are not plowed or groomed like in other parts of the country. So you may think YOU know how to drive in the snow, but WE do not.
7. The Mountain is Out!
When the clouds go away and we can see Mount Rainier, everyone will exclaim, “the mountain is out!” And yes, we usually say it like Oprah. In fact, this phrase has its own Twitter account. We are nuts about Mount Rainier, so it is really exciting when we can actually see it! And here in Olympia, your view of Mount Rainier is spectacular compared to Seattle.
8. How do I take my coffee? Seriously, Very Seriously.
This is very true. The coffee snobbery has made it down here to Olympia from Seattle. We can tell the difference between Starbucks, Seattle’s Best and our local coffee roaster, Batdorf and Bronson just by how it looks in the mug. We don’t even need to taste it. This is serious business here. Don’t mess with our coffee.
A day without coffee is like…just kidding. I have no idea. This is truth. Plain and simple.
9. Real estate.
In Seattle, you can buy this lovely shack for over a million dollars, but here in Olympia, you can get this huge home on the golf course for mere pennies! Thurston County remains one of the most affordable counties along the I-5 core, so this is a great place to call home.
10. Can we talk about the moss?
If you have a lawn, just accept that it will turn into a sea of moss. You can try to fight it but you’ll most likely lose. Moss is a real thing here, and it grows on everything. Learn to love it, is what I say.
11. The day Trader Joe’s came to Olympia.
Ok, Trader Joe’s was sorely delayed in opening a store in Olympia. I think Olympia is their prime market with all of the granolas that live and we didn’t get a Trader Joe’s until 2009. So it was a day of celebration when they opened its door, let me tell you. I’m surprised it’s not a holiday.
12. Locals know how to pronounce Puyallup, Sequim, geoduck and Nisqually.
We have lots of weird names but knowing how to pronounce Puyallup will probably be your best ticket into fitting in. The Y tends to throw people off, so don’t look at the Y; Pu-allup.
So there you have it – some of the funniest quirks about my hometown of Olympia, WA!