20 Signs You Live in South-Central Pennsylvania

First off, no one says Pennsylvania. It's the initials, PA (pee ay).

You have to explain the alcohol laws to everyone who visits from out of state. Prohibition Sally was hard at work here. But really, the alcohol laws ARE from the Prohibition Era and are extremely outdated. Big Brother is watching. You can buy beer at a distribution store by the case (24 pack) only. You can buy wine and liquor, but not beer, at the state-run liquor store. You can buy six-packs at only a few grocery stores, in a completely separate section with a separate cash register, but you can't by more than 2 six-packs at once. You can also buy six-packs at select bars, but the prices are seriously jacked up. Half the time they check your ID, they scan it and make you sign your life away. Your mind is BLOWN when you find out people in other states can buy wine at Target, that's madness!

You live in the land of traffic cones. Seriously, they're referred to as the state flower. The amount of roadwork here (and the POTHOLES) are insane.

Speaking of roads, the biggest highway leading from the south to the capital of the state, Harrisburg, is only 2 lanes. And you have to get off the highway to stay on the highway, all.the.time. It's infuriating.

Oh, and the roads change names as your driving on them all.the.time. I regularly travel on Camp Betty Washington Road (not making this up), which changes into Haines Road after a mile, which then changes into Memory Lane a mile later, then Pleasant Valley Road. It's ridiculous when you think about it, but honestly, no one bats an eye because it's so common. *shrugs*

Not everyone roots for the same football team. Given the location, I'd say about 40% root for the Baltimore Ravens (about 1 hour away), 40% Pittsburgh Steelers (about 4 hours away), and kind of strangely, because it's much closer than Pittsburgh, only 20% Philadelphia Eagles (1.5 hours away).

In contradiction, you don't know a single person who roots for the Pittsburgh Pirates. It's all about the Orioles (woop!) and ugh, the Phillies.

Everyone you meet either went to York College of Pennsylvania (YCP '10!), Millersville, or one of the bajillion Penn State campuses.

People are OBSESSED with Penn State football by the way, and are fiercely loyal towards Joe Paterno.

Everyone asks if you're Amish. People from out of state get so excited to see the Amish, but it's commonplace to you. Yes, you see Amish people on a near daily basis and buy your potato salad, wood furniture, play gyms, produce, bread, jam, and much, much more from Amish markets and it's awesome. Just don't get stuck behind a horse and buggy on a one lane road, it's the worst (horses poop and they're slow).

Speaking of Lancaster, you don't flinch or even giggle when you hear of same of the names of towns in Lancaster County. Intercourse, Paradise, and Bird-In-Hand, anyone?

It's like the windiest place on Earth, and at least 5-10 degrees colder. You live in large valley, so the wind just stays between mountains, and whips around. People who don't live in PA are very surprised at how windy it is when they visit, but you're not phased. 30mph with gusts up to 60mph? Another typical day. It's rare NOT to find your lawn furniture blown over and your garden flag halfway down the street.

Speaking of weather, you need your winter coat at least 6-7 months of the year, but the weather varies wildly in months like October and April. Our wedding was Saturday, October 17th and it was 45 degrees and super windy of course (and yep, I had an outdoor wedding), and it snowed the next day, but by Thursday the temperature was in the 60s.

Half the cars on the roads are pickups.

Maple Donuts! Yum, enough said.

Some people think they're from the South and fly the Confederate Flag. It's weird, we're north of the Mason-Dixon guys, get it together.

People fight over whether Sheetz versus Wawa gas stations are better, and it can come to blows. For the record, I grew up in Maryland with Wawa, moved to PA at 18, and I prefer Sheetz.

Mostly everyone you know votes Republican, but almost always a Democrat wins the state because of Philly (and to some extent, the city of Pittsburgh). Philly's interests are so totally different than the rest of the state which is largely rural, so a lot of people get really frustrated about that.

So much farmland. High school classes that teach farm skills are very normal. College classes devoted solely to Amish culture are also common. Buying fresh produce is the best. But getting stuck behind farm equipment on the road and suffering through these commercials is not.

Getting the Monday after Thanksgiving off school is a given, because of hunting season, duh! I was shocked to hear that when we first moved to PA, but apparently if the schools didn't give that day off, 3/4 of the students wouldn't show up.

Anyone else from PA? Think of anything I missed? How can you tell you live in your town?