15 Signs You're a City Person

For some, an urban lifestyle is more than just a post-grad pitstop.

Suburbanites with big dreams grow up picturing a life of luxury and excitement in the big city. But while city living does come with perks like 24/7 entertainment and five-star dining on every corner, it also has its own set of problems that only a true city slicker can handle.

So what makes someone a city person, exactly? Well, for starters, you'll know you're a city person when you prefer the sound of sirens over the sound of silence. And every true urbanite knows that the best mode of transportation is not a clean cab, but the crowded, sweltering subway. To determine once and for all whether you're destined for The Big Apple, read up on the ways to tell whether you're a city person. And if you're a true metropolitan, then you'll appreciate this list of 30 Things That Always Annoy People in Cities.

1
You prefer public transportation.

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City folk will take public transportation over a car service or taxi almost every time. Sure, subways and buses might be grimy and overcrowded, but you'd risk contracting a virus over getting stuck in city gridlock any day. And while you're at it, learn How to Make Your Commute the Best Part of Your Day.

2
Every food is good for on-the-go.

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While people in the 'burbs enjoy long, leisurely sit-down meals with their friends and family, urbanites prefer to eat everything on the go, as they generally have other places to be. And it's not just pizza and sandwiches—even messy meals, like spaghetti and burritos, are to-go for a true city person. And since your clothes are probably stained from all the grimy grub you're eating, make sure to read up on the 15 Ways You're Washing Your Clothes Wrong.

3
Your definition of "walking distance" is different from everyone else's.

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What you consider to be walking distance, your out-of-town friends consider to be Uber-ing distance. (They've learned this the hard way.) You might stroll a mile-and-a-half to work each way every day, but your exurban friends are likely accustomed to walking no further than from their bedroom to their garage.

4
You always bring an extra pair of shoes when you go out.

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Yes, you opt for heels when you hit the town, but after hours of trekking around the city, your feet are throbbing from exhaustion. Luckily, you've learned by now that your feet can only handle so much, and so you always come prepared with a pair of backup shoes—usually something compact and simple, like nude flats or white low-tops. You can always spot someone new to city life when you see a girl walking around barefoot at midnight. She'll learn soon enough!

5
You love giving people directions.

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It's a common misconception that people in the city are rude and unaccommodating to tourists. In reality, you're more than happy to help a visitor in need of finding the nearest subway stop. After all, how else are you going to show off your strong sense of direction? And the next time you journey to a foreign city, make sure to brush up on the 20 Ways to Make Travel Less Stressful.

6
You're not afraid to try new and exotic foods.

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Sure, New York is known for its bagels, Chicago for its deep dish pizza, and San Francisco for its sourdough, but all big cities are filled with an endless Yelp listing of cuisines. Whether you're going out to eat or ordering in, your culinary options range from Ethiopian to Australian to Ecuadorian—and there's no food that you wouldn't try once. And if fine dining is your forte, then don't miss The 9 Restaurants in America That Serve Real Kobe Beef.

7
You understand the value of Every. Square. Foot.

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While your friends in the Midwest are buying two- and three-bedroom houses, you're busy trying to cram your belongings into a 400-square-foot apartment that eats up more than half of your paycheck every month. But what truly defines a city person is not the apartment itself, but a willingness to make the small space work—because at the end of the day, you couldn't see yourself living anywhere else.

8
You can sleep through anything.

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City people are accustomed to sleeping soundly despite blaring car horns, noisy neighbors, and—in the case of Angelenos and San Franciscans—even earthquakes. In fact, for you, it's almost harder to fall asleep to the sound of complete silence, given that your usual lullaby is a symphony of sirens and inebriated singers.

9
You aren't fazed by rats.

Pizza rat? Please! You've spotted so many rats scurrying on public transit and around garbage cans that you've stopped trying to keep count of them. And while most out-of-towners find them disgusting, you actually think they're pretty cute—if you don't think about all the diseases they're carrying, that is.

10
You put headphones on just so people won't talk to you.

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It's not that you're antisocial. It's just that, after a long day of work, the last thing you want is to make small talk anyone.

11
You've been to a museum recently.

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One of the many perks of living in a city is having easy access to some of the world's best museums. For tourists, visiting the Museum of Modern Art or the Art Institute of Chicago (or the Tate or the Smithsonian or LACMA or any of the dozens of dozens of Washington, D.C., institutions) is a once-in-a-lifetime treat. For you, it's a regular Saturday romp. And if you love automobiles, make sure to check out these 10 Cool Car Museums for Cruising Down Memory Lane.

12
You barely interact with your neighbors.

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Suburban families love to plan block parties and neighborly get-togethers on a regular basis. You, on the other hand? You and your neighbor might wave when you pass one another in the hallway, but you can't remember their name for the life of you. And if you're a true city person, that's just the way you like it.

13
You usually have cash on you.

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Because street carts don't take credit carts, and you never know when the craving for street meat will strike.

14
You don't use your license.

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At least, not for its intended purpose. Unless you live in a city where driving is commonplace, like Seattle or D.C., your license serves as little more than your way of proving your age to clubs, bars, and the occasional security officer at the airport.

15
You can handle almost any form of precipitation.

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Unless a major storm threatens to blow you off of the sidewalk into the street, odds are that you have no problem lacing up your winter boots and braving the snow. And if you are lucky enough to have work canceled because of the weather, you know that your favorite restaurants will still be delivering, because that's just how the city works. Not a city person? Perhaps you'll better relate to the 30 Things That Always Annoy People in Small Towns.

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