Find yourself feeling awkward while in a city other than your hometown? While on a trip to Key West, I practiced the art of acting like a fool local to better fit in with the citizens of the beautiful destination.
While trying to be mistaken as a local, it’s best to try to blend in with your surroundings.
You’ll want to take as many pictures of the ocean as possible while you sit your ass on a beach chair all day. You won’t look like a tourist. At all.
To ensure your native status, find a local celebrity and become fast friends.
Throw yourself in front of tourist traps, like ghost story trolleys. Locals hate that kind of shit.
Do as the residents do and hop on any car with one million stickers and repeat the world welcome every time another human walks by.
Hit your concierge up for local hot spots that mostly residents frequent. Once you’ve arrived, act like you’ve never been out of the damn house before as you ooh and ahh over the gravel floor, the open air ceiling and the patio lights that are a staple at every other beach restaurant (and that you also have hanging on your own porch).

Blue Heaven is truly heaven on earth.
Even though you grew up in a small farming community and own two cats, be sure to document the strange creatures roaming around the restaurant that seem so foreign. All locals get picture happy in native establishments.
Coax those little chicks to sit on your finger in between every bite of delicious nourishment. Everyone that lives in Key West does this. Trust me.
Spot a mama hen cuddling with her newly hatched chick and suddenly long for a feathered baby of your own.
Proceed to cluck and grow your own wings to entice the real, live Peeps to follow you out of the restaurant. I promise you will not look like an ass clown.
When the Great Poultry Heist fails miserably, console yourself (and solve all of the world’s problems) by swinging in a hammock under palm trees talking in a voice just loud enough to keep your fellow vacationers up ’til dawn.
Be sure to pack your finest sleep accessories as you will be amazed at the energy it takes to act like a resident of whatever community you’re visiting.
As you can see, acting like a local is exhausting but if you follow my tips, you’ll fit right in.
CBXB
You’re absolutely crazy, and I bet those locals heaved a sigh of relief when you high-tailed it out of there. I so approve of the hammock idea, although I’ve never actually managed to get comfortable enough to sleep in one. I was quite fooled by your Mama Hen act, but I don’t think you’d convince the chicks. 🙂
Nope. I left chickless. And in regard to the hammock, I managed to turn it upside down while holding a Skinny Pirate and not spill a drop. Master skills! Key West will most likely ban me from the island…
We hired Two and a Truck, too, and they were great.
I can’t say enough nice things about them! Glad to hear your experience was the same.
Where are your weekend winks? Moving is no excuse!
I was very, very tardy. My apologies! But they’re up now. My feet still hurt!
Haha. Better feet than back.
You have the most fun wherever you go. What a great trip! (No idea why but I imagined Ted as your photographer)
Ted always is behind the camera – except when I force him in uncomfortable costumes for pics at his own expense. If it’s not fun, why bother?! 🙂