“Couch potato”byPhillip Capperis licensed underCC BY 2.0
After so many extreme weather scares, many Hoosiers have been left desensitized by a mere watch or warning. What would send some parts of the country grabbing their prized possessions and finding cover is more likely to send Hoosiers outside with a lawn chair and a beer. Of course, if weather starts to get really bad, every Hoosier can put their back-up plan in place without even breaking a sweat.
“Public Transport”byTravis Simonis licensed underCC BY 2.0
It’s called the “Crossroads of America” for a reason, even in the bigger cities, everyone drives everywhere in Indiana. One of the side effects of this freedom, is that most Hoosiers have no clue how to get around when they head to a big city like Chicago or New York. Sure, there are some cabs and some buses in Indiana, but put a Hoosier in Grand Central Terminal and it’s sure to take them quite some time before they find the right subway car. Once they’ve finally boarded, they’ll probably just hide in the corner and hope no one talks to them.
“St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Warsaw, Indiana”byJerry Richardsonis licensed underCC BY 2.0
As part of the Bible Belt, religion is a big deal in Indiana. One of the ways that this is apparent is the never-ending stream of extreme signs along the side of the road. There aren’t as many in the larger cities, but on long drives across the state, you’re sure to encounter a few makeshift billboards condemning sinners. Eventually, these signs are no longer shocking and most Hoosiers simply tune them out.
It’s a well-known fact that Indiana’s got a ton of farm land, tractors come with the territory. When a driver first gets their license, they get a little nervous the first time a tractor cuts them off on a back road, but eventually this sense of bewilderment fades. Every Hoosier has perfected the art of squeezing around one of these bad boys and every Hoosier has considered simply driving under one of the larger ones at least once.
Any Hoosier will admit, they jumped the first few times they saw a several hundred pound animal walking along the side of the highway, but eventually deer become a simple fact of driving in Indiana. A Hoosier hardly blinks if a friend tells them their car is in the shop after hitting a deer and a Hoosier wouldn’t be too surprised if they drove past someone throwing a good specimen of roadkill in the back of their pick-up. After all, there’s nothing better than free food.
One of the friendliest states in America, a Hoosier doesn’t think twice about holding the door open for a stranger and subliminally expects others to do the same. Whenever eye contact is made, a Hoosier will give a friendly nod and smile, only to be taken aback if they don’t receive one in return. It’s a sign you’ve been in Indiana too long when a random stranger is unknowingly rude to you and it ruins your day.
After only a few seasons, most Hoosiers have lost all faith that the weather will actually do what it’s supposed to. It’s not a question of whether or not the sun will be out, it’s a question of whether or not it will snow, rain, and hit 70 degrees in a single day. If you look in your trunk and you’re carrying clothing items from four different seasons at the same time, you may have spent too much time in the Hoosier State.
There’s a reason so many horror movies successfully incorporate cornfields into the setting; “Signs,” “Jeepers Creepers,” and, duh, “Children of the Corn” to name a few. Cornfields scare most moviegoers across the country. Huge plant walls hiding who knows what… it can be a scary thought. But not for Hoosiers. Their idea of a good time is finding someone with a cornfield and throwing a party smack dab in the middle. You know you’ve been in Indiana too long if you can walk 10 yards behind the first row of corn without feeling a little nervous.
Or deep fried cookie dough. Or a deep fried Snickers bar. While other parts of the country get a little skittish when it comes to eating greasy treats, Indiana has no shame. If you don’t believe me, head down to the Westside Nut Club Fall Fest in Evansville, where over 100 delicious deep fried snacks are up for grabs. Most of America would pass on filling themselves with fattening bites, while the Hoosier State would rather just throw it in the fryer first.
Even if someone born and raised in Indiana doesn’t like the sport, there’s a good chance that basketball has impacted their life. Often times, Hoosiers hate a certain city or certain part of town for no reason other than a high school sports rivalry. Even more fist fights have broken out as a result of the century long war waging between Purdue and IU fans. Basketball may just be a game, but in Indiana, it’s so ingrained in the culture that it’s become a source of identity.
You’ve been in the Hoosier State for too long if the sunsets have lost their appeal, but of course, that will never happen. Sure, the weather is a little crazy at times and drives from town to town aren’t the most exciting, but there’s nothing like watching the sun fall over stretches of farmland after a hard day’s work. Even though a Hoosier might think they’ve been in Indiana for too long, if they try to leave, it will always pull them back. Did we miss anything? Tell us how you can tell someone’s been in Indiana too long in the comments below!
