Rhode Island is a small state with a big personality and the people that hail from the Ocean State are no different! If you grew up in the nation’s smallest state, chances are there are a few habits you’ll simply never get rid of. No matter how many places you visit, or how long you’ve been away, there’s something about the culture of Rhode Island that stays with you for a lifetime. Here are just a few side effects of growing up in Rhode Island.

1. Dialing an area code is still super weird every time.
Flickr/Nicolas Nova
Rhode Island only has one area code! Anything that isn't 401 just feels foreign. The good news, though, is that these days most of us don't even dial the phone. We just scroll through our contacts and hit the call button.
2. You are called to the ocean from deep within!
Flickr/Y Nakanishi
Growing up in the Ocean State means you simply need to be by the sea. With so many amazing beaches scattered about, this comes as no surprise. We spend as much time as we can by the water, and we know that the beach is just as amazing in the winter (so quiet and serene) as it is during the hottest days of summer.
3. Summer doesn't feel real until you've had a Del's Lemonade.
Flickr/smcgee
Okay, Mr. Lemon is also wicked good! Whether it's paired with a lobster roll or clam cakes, an ice-cold glass of Del's Lemonade defines summer. We don't even need to have it with anything to enjoy this popular Rhode Island drink on a hot summer day.
4. You prefer your milk to be coffee milk.
Wikipedia
It is difficult to accept that the rest of the world grows up without coffee milk. Such luxury!
5. When you're stressing your point you say, "wicked."
Facebook/Tommy’s Clam Shack
Examples: These clam cakes are wicked good! That marketing campaign was a wicked waste of money.
6. When you think about going far away, you probably mean Boston.
Flickr/James
When you come from such a small state an hour away seems like a lifetime away. We wouldn't have it any other way, either, would we?
7. You are so used to being prepared for all the elements all year-round.
Flickr/Jef Nickerson
Whether it's snow in April, or a sudden rain storm on a clear day, you're a New Englander through and through so you can handle it.
8. You simply can't give directions unless you can base them on the Dunkin Donuts along the route.
Facebook/Dunkin
Closed businesses also work!
9. You still get antsy in any car ride lasting more than 15 minutes.
Flickr/Olaf
If it's more than a 15-minute drive, it's really a road trip at this point. Bring snacks.
10. You'll never be able to call a bubbler a water fountain without discomfort.
Flickr/Geoff Penaluna
You'll find yourself defining this word to out of staters your whole life!

Do you have any of these weird but lovable side effects of growing up in Rhode Island? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments! Then see if you agree with these reasons that living in Rhode Island is the best.

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Living In Rhode Island

Beth Price-Williams | June 05, 2023

What are some of the risks of living in Rhode Island?

We all know that Rhode Island is an amazing place to grow up and live, but it also has some risks. Here are just a few of the risks of growing up in Rhode Island:

  • Potholes are pretty common in Rhode Island. We either learn to dodge them or deal with the bumps along the way.
  • Dealing with construction is a natural consequence of living in Rhode Island. We must find an alternative route to our destination or we sit (and sit and sit) in traffic.
  • Sitting in traffic can drain a lot of our time. We need to have a lot of patience to live in Rhode Island sometimes.
  • Black ice is very real and very dangerous. Wintertime in Rhode Island means taking extra precautions when we’re behind the wheel.
  • Dealing with throngs of tourists. We love our beloved Rhode Island, and so do a whole lot of other people, which makes summer crowded.

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