Is there a unique west coast culture? (Los Angeles, San Diego: school, to live)

[Gentoo]

After reading many threads as well as talking to people who've moved from the east coast to San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle; they've all told me that while each of these cities is unique (many had visited several), they say that there a "distinct west coastness", whatever that means.

If such a thing exist, what would any of you say this is?

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

After reading many threads as well as talking to people who've moved from the east coast to San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle; they've all told me that while each of these cities is unique (many had visited several), they say that there a "distinct west coastness", whatever that means.

If such a thing exist, what would any of you say this is?

A dislike for people who've moved from the East Coast.

[Mach50]

1. Wearing flannels and Vans when you are 50.
2. Driving cars that were last seen at an A&W in the 60's and thinking you look cool.
3. People of all races are being raised by Mexican nannies, kids will know spanish before they know english.
4. White guys married to Asian girls, who both speak Spanish.
5. Dressing in all black....at the beach.
6. Tie-dye shirts never really "DIE".
7. Saying "like" every other word (SoCal).
8. Saying "hella" every other word (NorCal).
9. Mentioning were you live, work and where you went to school...before even saying your name when meeting someone.
10. Taking a drive 2 hours away, is a vacation.

[Caltovegas]

The pacific ocean has no salt air smell....

[Archan]

I used to think that east coast people - live to work and west coast people - work to live, but west coast people work pretty hard too. Maybe it's just that west coast people can turn off work and enjoy the small things more easily.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Archan

I used to think that east coast people - live to work and west coast people - work to live, but west coast people work pretty hard too. Maybe it's just that west coast people can turn off work and enjoy the small things more easily.

I really haven't seen any difference. People who work for IBM, work just as hard in SV as they do in NYC. People in NYC might go to club, bar or show to chill while people here will probably go out for a hike, bike or drive along the redwoods.

[ubringliten]

There must be a difference. On the east coast, you have Washington DC and Wall Street and certainly very close to Europe. These things must play a role in molding the culture. While on the west coast, you have beautiful beaches and topography, and Silicon Valley and entertainment. So pretty much you can see the differences in the cultures.

[CAVA1990]

So many folks on the West Coast are from somewhere else now that the culture's just a mishmash. There used to be more of distinction than there is now:

West Coast - Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
East Coast - John Travolta in Welcome Back Kotter

[KC6ZLV]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

A dislike for people who've moved from the East Coast.

How about a culture of people from the East Coast who hate California and can't wait to leave, but never seem to leave because they can't make as much money anywhere else?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Caltovegas

The pacific ocean has no salt air smell....

Not entirely true. I've smelled that smell around SD Bay, in SB, in Monterey, around SF Bay and up north, in Seattle.

But since we tend to have more wind than the East Coast, perhaps the smell gets a bit diluted much of the time, compared with the East Coast.