Some days living in San Diego would be the dream. On the iPhone Weather app, it always looks to be around 70 degrees and sunny every day. Iowa sometimes gets these temperatures but only for four days. The other days it is at or above these temperatures, it is always humid. No ocean breeze can compete with what 90% humidity feels like. The difference between Iowa and San Diego is the difference.

San Diego’s weather is the same weather every day. On the other hand, every Iowan has had a day where they wear a jacket and jeans in the morning and then a cut-off shirt and shorts by the afternoon. A day full of chills in the morning and humidity in the afternoon with a hint of scorching sun.

San Diego may have beaches with beautiful sunsets, but where else on Earth can one experience every weather extreme outside of Iowa? Winds come from every direction whether it is hot or cold. If not convinced, go walk the University of Northern Iowa campus and try not to be blown away during all times of the year.

Iowa also goes from 90-degree summer days where people say, “Hey if it wasn’t so humid, it wouldn’t be too hot,” to winters where they say, “Hey, if the wind wasn’t blowing, it wouldn’t be too cold.” Are Iowans ever genuinely happy with how the weather feels in the Hawkeye State? No. Fortunately, it certainly gives Iowans a lot to talk about.

The weather in Iowa is always changing thus making the nice weather days even more special. If I started eating my favorite candy, Skittles, every day, I would love it to an extent, but after the 15th day in a row of eating Skittles, I would eventually grow tired of eating them. This is what it must be like living in San Diego.

On the flip side, if I am forced to eat only kale and spinach for a day in the 15-day span, then I eat Skittles the next day, those Skittles are going to be cherished even more. This is Iowa. Cherishing each day because who knows whether the next day or hour will be too hot or too cold.

While it always feels like Iowa goes from scorching hot with the humidity weighing us down to cold as ice with a wind chill of negative 15 degrees in a matter of days, it is important to cherish the comfortable days. Take advantage of the great weather when it comes to the Hawkeye State. Go outside or at least tell everyone you know about it. The weather comes and goes in Iowa, but the variability makes it worth it. Or that is what we tell ourselves to make living in Iowa more bearable.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.