When you think of Boston, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the Bostonian accent. Does “Pahk the cah at Hahvahd yahd” sound familiar?

Or maybe you think about New England clam chowder, our road rage-infested drivers — nicknamed “massholes” — or our profound and undying love for all things Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots and Bruins.

Whether you love us or hate us, or just find us to be annoying, you might be surprised that Boston is ‘wicked’ similar to Milwaukee.

First, let me be completely honest with you. I’m not actually from the city of Boston. I hail from Shrewsbury, a small suburb 45 minutes to the west.

But why say I’m from Shrewsbury when I can say I’m from Boston? Ask a few Chicago kids, I mean, Chicago suburb kids.

Quick fun facts: You can thank Shrewsbury for inventing birth control and being the first place to produce white chocolate in the United States.

When I first left home for Milwaukee, I expected to enter a whole new world … a dazzling place I never knew. But after two years of traveling back and forth between Milwaukee and Boston, several commonalities unveiled themselves to me.

If Milwaukee is the beer city, Boston might just be its younger sibling.

The Boston Beer Company introduced Sam Adams in 1985, and the Miller Brewing Company began living the high life in 1855. And even though Milwaukee has been in the brew business for more than 100 years longer, Boston has the Irish. That’s gotta count for something.

Then there are the culturally and historically rich aspects of both the Mil and Beantown.

Walking through Boston’s North End, with an infamous Mike’s Pastry cannoli in hand, you will either run into a hoard of old, Italian men drinking wine and playing cards or come across the home of 18th century Yankee rebel Paul Revere. Fanueil Hall, Quincy Market and the North Church flurry with tourists, and the Irish South End dishes out one hell of a St. Patrick’s Day parade.

On the other hand, Milwaukee is still reminiscent of its French, Polish and German heritage. Wikipedia tells me the Milwaukee phone book has more than 40 pages of Schmitts. Another semi-more reliable online source, WhitePages, told me “Whoa! Over 100 results found.”

Now, that’s a lot of Schmitts.

Another similarity: bipolar weather. Hot and sunny one day, cold and rainy the next. The weather I thought was unique to New England ended up being common in Milwaukee, too. And hey, both have the strong, bitter wind that will leave your face numb for days. What’s not to love?

When I make my return flights back to Boston, that classic Charles River theme song, “Dirty Water,” enters my head.

And now, after seeing the Lake Michigan water that washes up onto Bradford Beach, I can also say, “I love that dirty water, oh, Milwaukee you’re my home.”