All the Signs You May Have Lived in Arizona Too Long

Arizona ain’t like the other states. We got picked last for Team Continental United States, and frankly, we don’t care. We became the 48th state out of sheer obstinacy, if you ask me. We do everything else differently, too. Gun laws, weather, critters, driving. We do what we want.

A note of caution: once you’ve been here a while, the other states will seem boring by comparison. Here are a few clues you may have been in Arizona a bit too long.

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people walking on road

You Think 85 Degrees Feels Chilly

At some point, Arizona rewires your internal thermostat. A day that would send people in other states straight to the pool suddenly has you reaching for a hoodie and muttering, “Kinda brisk today.”

If you find yourself describing 100-degree weather as “not that bad,” congratulations: you've been here way too long. Arizona's famously dry climate has a way of changing your perspective, for better or worse.

READ ALSO: These are the 3 Most Affordable Cities to Live in Arizona

green grass field near mountain during sunset

You Perform the Sacred Car Seat Heat Test

Tourists hop right into their vehicles. Locals know better.

Before sitting down, you hover a hand over the seat like a cautious archaeologist checking for lava. Bonus points if you've ever driven while holding the steering wheel with a T-shirt, towel, or whatever fabric happened to be nearby. These are not quirks. These are survival skills. Two-finger-driving. It’s a skill, not a weakness.

a person driving a car with their hand on the steering wheel

READ: Arizona Misspells These Words

You Can Smell a Monsoon Before It Arrives

Nothing screams "Arizona veteran" quite like predicting rain before the weather app does. You catch a slight hint of humidity in the air and suddenly become a part-time meteorologist.

The North American Monsoon brings seasonal moisture into Arizona each summer, and longtime residents learn to recognize it almost instinctively.

macro shot photography of tree during daytime while raining

Desert Wildlife Is Just Another Tuesday

A scorpion in the garage? A javelina in the neighborhood? A rattlesnake where a rattlesnake absolutely should not be?

Instead of panicking, you sigh, grab a broom, and take a photo for social media. Arizona has officially become home when your reaction is mild annoyance rather than sheer terror.

We smugly answer "vinegaroon" or "bark scorpion" whenever people post these photos on local social media sites. You can’t scare us with your creepy insects. We’ve got the market cornered.

A scorpion crawls on dry, rocky ground

You Say, “But It's a Dry Heat” Without Irony

This may be the ultimate giveaway. You've heard the phrase a thousand times, mocked it at least half of those times, and now somehow catch yourself saying it to visitors.

That's when you know Arizona has won. Here are more ways you can confirm that you just may have lived in Arizona entirely too long: