by Living in New Hampshire isn’t just about enduring cold winters and leaf-peeping in the fall—it’s a lifestyle, a mindset, and a badge of honor. If you’ve been here long enough, the quirks and customs of the Granite State start to feel like second nature. Here are ten classic signs you’ve lived in New Hampshire for far too long—and why you’re probably proud of it.
1. Flannel Is Your Year-Round Uniform
You’ve been wearing flannel since before it became a fashion statement. Whether it’s January or July, your closet is stocked with plaid. Add in a beard or work boots, and you’ve got the unofficial state outfit.
2. You’re a Pro at Extreme Weather Driving
Black ice, sleet, whiteouts, and frost heaves don’t scare you—you barely flinch. But ask you to drive in Boston traffic, and suddenly you’re rethinking everything. You know how to navigate a snowstorm, but a rotary in Massachusetts? That’s chaos.
3. “Masshole” Is Your Default Insult
Whether or not the offender is actually from Massachusetts, it doesn’t matter. Get cut off in traffic, and your reflex is to shout “Masshole!” It’s practically a Granite State reflex.
4. You Know a Plow Guy (Or You Are One)
“Got a plow guy?” isn’t just neighborhood talk—it’s a winter survival strategy. Between digging out after nor’easters and clearing driveways, you either own a plow or are on a first-name basis with someone who does.
5. You’ve Survived a Real New Hampshire Winter
When you say you’ve lived through winter, you don’t mean chilly evenings—you mean bone-numbing cold, four-foot snowbanks, and digging your car out before work. You’ve got the stories (and frostbite memories) to prove it.
6. Ticks and Black Flies Are a Summer Reality
A walk in the woods? That’s a full operation. Bug spray, long sleeves, and a full-body tick check afterward. These pests are practically the state’s unofficial mascots.
7. You’ve Got Fierce State Pride
You’ve bragged about New Hampshire foliage, praised the view from Mount Washington, and insisted there’s no better road than the Kancamagus Highway. Outsiders may not get it—but you know the truth: it’s the most beautiful place on Earth.
8. “Old Home Days” or Town Fairs Are Sacred Traditions
You mark your calendar for the local fair, and wouldn’t miss it for the world. Whether it’s fried dough, a tractor pull, or watching kids show sheep, these events are pure New Hampshire—and you’ve been going since childhood.
9. Fried Dough and Aroma Joe’s Are Essentials
You judge a fair by its fried dough and can’t understand how anyone lives without Aroma Joe’s coffee. Forget chain coffee shops—this is the real lifeblood of the region.
10. You’ve Jarred Veggies or Know Someone Who Does
You either have a shelf of homemade pickles and jam or a friend who gives them to you every year. Canning is second nature in New Hampshire—it’s how you keep summer alive through the winter.
Not because you’re chasing sustainability, but because your power bill in February was outrageous. Solar, wood stove, and a generator? Sounds like a plan.
If any—or all—of these sound familiar, you’re not just living in New Hampshire. You are New Hampshire. And let’s be honest: you wouldn’t have it any other way.
