- You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
- You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
- You know more than ten ways to order coffee.
- You know the names of the new Orca whale pod babies.
- You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant or an event at Orcas Center.
- You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it’s not a real mountain.
- You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Café Jamma, or “Across the Street” coffee.
- You know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye salmon.
- You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, and Willamette.
- You drive through a state park on your way to “town.”
- You consider swimming an indoor sport.
- You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
- You cannot wait for a day with “showers and sun breaks.”
- You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
- You consider it to be “prime time reading” while in the ferry line.
- You can point to at least two mountain ranges, even if you cannot see them through the cloud cover.
- You put on shorts if the temperature gets above 50 degrees, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.
- You switch to sandals when it gets above 60 degrees, but keep your socks on.
- You share your hiking trails with mountain bikes and horses.
- You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
- You buy new sunglasses every year, because you can’t find the old ones after such a long time.
- You often switch from “heat” to “fan” in the same day.
- You use a down comforter in the summer.
- You carry jumper cables in your car, and know how to use them.
- You design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
- You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Raining, and Road Construction.
- Your important real estate documents are hand-delivered from escrow and title companies.
- You have to remind yourself to stop at traffic lights on the mainland.
- You actually understand most of these statements.
Please share yours in the comments…
Priceless! All true. Collect more from the populace and print up a “You Know Your’re from Orcas, 2013” booklet. with small sketches here and there.
Add: -You drive from fog to snow to rain to hail to sun in the first 20 minutes.
You have the muddiest car when getting gas at Costco.
You can tell it’s a tourist or visitor when you see a white Lincoln Towncar cruise by.
You have three different weight bathrobes hanging in your closet within easy reach.
You leave the Christmas lights up all year, lighting when appropriate.
You discuss serious issues such as “Recycle”, “Protecting Indian Island Biodiversity” “When is Martin Lund performing next?””Did you see the full moon?”
You have potting soil, hay and/or zucchini in your car.
You voted for the late great April the Cow for mayor – all three times!
Your dog knows all the businesses that have treats, and which ones they can go inside to get them.
Most of these apply to me too, and I live on Lopez! Especially the dog knowing all the places that give treats!!!
Happy New Year, everyone!
You return your shopping cart to inside the Island Market.
You leave your car and house unlocked and lock up your garbage can.
Your insurance rep, from Bellingham, takes the redeye ferry to meet with you at the Orcas Hotel…at 6:30 am.
You wait with anticipation so you can do your weekend shopping…
At the dump.
Orcas people are wonderful!
Entering the Historical Museum you are suddenly overwhelmed by the wonderful layout and displays the volunteer workers have achieved.
On St. Patricks Day when Tony Lee sings his great Irish songs.
When the Deputy Sheriff politely says, “Harry, please tell your kids to slow down.”
When the teller at the bank drive-in window always says, “Every time you come by you have a different pretty woman driving you!”
As I enter, Jules, without saying a word, immediately starts prepping a Double Man, straight-up, two cherries.
Viewing Craig Nelson’s SNJ warbird, painted like my WWII F6F Grumman Hellcat fighter,in a beautiful dark Navy blue.
When entering the Family Clinic examining room the doctor’s dog, Paco, follows me in, lays down, and makes sure the nurse doesn’t stab me with the big needle.
And, of course, Graham Wallis constantly haranging, “I delivered your oil ten years ago and you haven’t paid! When do I get my money?!!”
Orcas people are wonderful! I love ’em!
You have an ever-present “stripe” of mud on the back of your jeans from where they touched the car door jamb.
If you drive Dolphin Bay Road everyday, people start calling your car the Cha Cha Chai car and when do we harvest!
You can sign your credit card charge slip “U.R. Stuck” for 17 years and not once be questioned.