10 Things Only True Floridians Understand

Florida isn’t just where you live—it’s how you live. There are certain things that only people who’ve spent serious time in the Sunshine State truly understand. It’s a mix of heat, humidity, odd headlines, and unwritten rules. If you know, you know. Here are ten things that make sense only if you're from Florida.

1. The Real Meaning of "Feels Like 104°"
Floridians don't look at the actual temperature. We look at the heat index. "Feels like" is the number that matters. Ninety-two degrees? That’s cute. If the humidity kicks it up to 104, then we’re talking.

2. Flip-Flops are Year-Round Footwear
There’s no such thing as sandal season here. Flip-flops are daily wear. Rain or shine, formal or casual, they work. And if it drops below 60, maybe—just maybe—we pull out the sneakers.

3. Gator Crossings are Real
We don’t flinch at signs warning about alligator crossings. That’s Tuesday. If you’ve ever seen traffic slow down for a gator sunbathing in the street, you’re officially one of us.

4. You Have Strong Opinions About Publix Subs
No one talks about grocery stores with more passion than a Floridian talks about a Pub Sub. Chicken tender sub? With Boar’s Head bacon? Toasted? We don’t mess around. It’s the lunch standard.

5. Afternoon Thunderstorms Mean Schedule Adjustments
By 3 p.m., you can pretty much count on a wall of rain coming through. Plans get moved, errands get skipped, and the dog goes under the bed. It's built into the daily rhythm.

6. Tourists are Easy to Spot
You can see them a mile away. Socks with sandals, lobster-red sunburns, driving ten under the speed limit in the left lane. The rest of us are just trying to get to work.

7. You’ve Had to Explain Florida Headlines to Out-of-Staters
"Florida Man" isn’t just a meme. It’s our reality. You stop reacting after a while. Guy wrestles gator with a frying pan? Seems reasonable.

8. You Know the Seasons by the Bugs
Mosquitoes in summer, lovebugs in spring and fall. Palmetto bugs year-round. You don't wait for a calendar to tell you the seasons. You wait for what's flying at your face.

9. Hurricane Prep is Just a Part of Life
You have a system. Batteries, water, gas, canned food. You probably even have a favorite local meteorologist. And if it misses us? Leftover snacks for a week.

10. You’ve Gone Swimming While It Was Raining
Unless there’s lightning, the pool is fair game. Rain just means fewer people around. It’s not weird. It’s Florida.

Final Thought

If most of this sounds normal to you, congratulations—you’re definitely a Floridian. Whether you were born here or earned your status over time, you get it. That mix of heat, humor, and everyday weirdness is just how it goes down here.

We even made a shirt for it. Flip-Flops. Publix. Gators.

Real ones know.