11 Reasons to be Thankful You’re From the Jersey Shore

I don't know what it is about outsiders, but the concept of not holding up traffic in the left lane or slowing down for pedestrians in a crosswalk seems foreign to them. Jughandles, circles, constant construction...we know how to navigate it all -- despite the confused non-locals all around us.

It wasn't until I went to college out of state that I realized that good pizza and bagels don't exist outside of this area. Did you know people in other places put stuff like ranch dressing on their pizza?? You know why? CUZ IT'S TERRIBLE.

It's no secret that I hate winter, but I suppose it would feel odd to celebrate Christmas if it were 75 degrees and sunny. And before that, you have to admit, it's kind of nice to watch the leaves change in the fall as you snuggle up in a hoodie with a pumpkin spice latte. I also don't think I would appreciate that perfect Spring day when the bright green leaves pop against a clear blue sky and you can drive around with the windows open for the first time in months. And as for summer, well...come on. Not everyone gets to experience all the seasons.

Think about this: there are people in this country that have never seen a large body of water, let alone the actual beautiful ocean. I think we sometimes take it for granted that we live in a place where people go on vacation. We also know how amazing the beach can be no matter what the weather is like.

You guys, we're home to one of the best education systems in the entire COUNTRY. Our schools are consistently ranked among the cream of the crop, even when compared to other schools here in Jersey.

The Shore is chock-full of incredible and talented musicians spanning all genres. From local indie bands to up-and-comers to major names like Bruce Springsteen, Count Basie, Southside Johnny, and more...there must be something in the water in Monmouth and Ocean Counties that breeds amazing musical ability. Not to mention all the venues in our area...from the small clubs and bars scattered around the shore to the legendary Stone Pony and Count Basie Theatre, and the popular PNC Bank Arts Center, there's always somewhere to catch a great show!

There's a reason people around here got so annoyed about MTV's Jersey Shore. It's because we truly love this area, and want its representation to the world to be one that will make other people love it too. People in other places don't seem to care as much about letting people know where they are from. It's because we know there is something special about the Jersey Shore, and we'll shout it from the rooftops wherever we go!

Like I said, I went to school out of state, so I had to learn how to pump my own gas. It's not that it's hard to do...it's that when it's pouring rain, or freezing cold, or 100 degrees outside, I'm glad that I can sit in the comfort of my car while someone else fills up my tank for me. (I'm also VERY thankful for the gas pumpers that still show up to work in those miserable conditions.)

Did you know that in other places, people just go HOME at the end of the night? If you're from the Jersey Shore, you know you're never too far from an awesome diner where you and your friends can stop in at 3 a.m. to laugh about the night's events over a steaming hot plate of disco fries...or anything else your drunken heart (and stomach) desires. It's an experience like no other, and I'm glad to have been part of the tradition.

Listen, I love the tourists and the money they bring, but we all know that the best time of the year at the Jersey Shore is in early May, and most of September. We can enjoy the warm weather and all the best parts of our area with none of the traffic, long lines, and general feeling of claustrophobia that you get from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Not everyone experiences the awesomeness that is local summer!