You Know You're From the Gulf Coast When...

You have FEMA's number on your speed dialer.

You have more than 300 'C' and 'D' batteries in your kitchen drawer.

Your pantry contains more than 20 cans of Spaghetti Os.

You are thinking of repainting your house to match the plywood covering your windows.

It seems spooky that the power's out but the electric toothbrush still works.

When describing your house to a prospective buyer, you say it has three bedrooms, two baths and one safe hallway.

You've been days without power, but you still cannot train yourself not to flip on light switches when entering a room.

Your SSN isn't a secret, it's written in Sharpie on your arms.

You are on a first-name basis with the cashier at Home Depot.

The road leading to your house has been declared a No-Wake Zone.

You decide that your patio furniture looks better on the bottom of the pool.

You own more than three large coolers.

You can wish that other people get hit by a hurricane and not feel the least bit guilty about it.

Three months ago you couldn't hang a shower curtain; today you can assemble a portable generator by candlelight.

You catch a 13-pound redfish - in your driveway.

You can recite from memory whole portions of your homeowner's insurance policy.

You consider a 'vacation' to stunning Tupelo , Mississippi .

At cocktail parties, women are attracted to the guy with the biggest chainsaw. (yeah, baby!)

You can rattle off the names of three or more meteorologists who work at the Weather Channel.

Someone comes to your door to tell you they found your roof.

Ice is a valid topic of conversation.

Your 'drive-thru' meal consists of MRE's and bottled water.

You spend more time on your roof then in your living room.

You've been laughed at over the phone by a roofer, fence builder or a tree worker.

A battery powered TV is considered a home entertainment center.

Your child's first words are 'hunker down' and you didn't go to Ole Miss!

Having a tree in your living room does not necessarily mean it's Christmas.

Toilet Paper is elevated to "coin of the realm" at the shelters.

You know the difference between the'good side' of a storm and the 'bad side.'

Your kids start school in August and finish in July.

You go to work early and stay late just to enjoy the air conditioning.

The number one way you can tell if you're from the Gulf Coast?? You can survive a devestating hurricane, lose precious possessions deep with memories and weep with neighbors over the loss of their homes, but when it's all said and done, you still have a sense of humor!