1. You have two totally different circles of friends. Which is great because you find natural exposure to people you might not meet or befriend otherwise. Also, if you both need friend time, you don’t have to worry about wanting to hang out with the same people. This is important because everyone has those moments, where you find yourself picking chip fragments off your significant other’s shirt while he’s sitting on the couch watching Game of Thrones, that make you think, “Shit, I should probably hang out with other people for an hour or two.”

2. You actually learn things from each other. If you know everything about finance and he knows everything about art, you can advise him on his 401(k) investment strategy and he can decorate your apartment. You’ll be financially savvy and have Real Art, which is, of course, every yuppie couple’s dream living situation, next to owning a proper espresso machine.

3. You become adept at the art of compromise. Because you’ll never want to turn off Rihanna so he can listen to Bruce Springsteen, but at some point you’re going to have to learn to tolerate the TV/music/film that you hate from the bottom of your soul because you unquestionably love him more than you hate his iTunes. Your practiced art of compromise will get you far in the workplace where you might find yourself regularly with the urge to punch people in the face, and will have to “settle” by not doing that.

4. You try new things. Like watching a TV show you’d never normally watch because it’s on a network like FX or something like that. Or you’ll pick up a book because your S.O. loves it even though it’s not in your usual rotation of YA, memoirs, and Jane Austen.

5. You realize it’s OK to tell your partner that you do hate some of their interests, and that isn’t a problem in a healthy relationship. It also makes you realize that while Pitbull may be incredibly stupid, your partner is not incredibly stupid because he pumps iron to his music.

6. You are treated to the most fun surprises when you least expect it. Your opposite is unpredictable because he doesn’t think the same way you do. So when you’re at a little market and find clogs, you might think, “OK never wearing THOSE,” but your S.O. might see those same shoes and think, “These would make amazing planters for a windowsill herb garden.” Then he’ll come home with clogs and put herbs and soil in them, and it will all be adorable.

7. If one of you is neat and the other messy, you keep each other from becoming too anal/slob-like. Neat freaks can always stand to take their obsession with everything being put in drawers at right angles down a notch, and slobs can always stand to put dishes in the dishwasher at a faster rate.

8. Your partner can play devil’s advocate. If you just can’t possibly see how someone can have a different point of view than you, your partner, being unlike you, can often get you to see the other side of things. (My partner tells me this is called “empathy.” See how that works?)

9. When your families meet, it’s entertaining to watch. Because they’re usually opposites too, and there is just no end to the amusement here, starting when your mom rolls in wearing a hippie caftan and Tevas, and his mom rolls in wearing a taupe skirt suit with Kate Middleton pantyhose. HIIIII.

10. You get alone time when he goes off to do the thing you have no interest in. Which really comes in handy when you realize you’ve not only perhaps picked a chip fragment off his shirt, as described in No. 1, but also put that chip fragment in your mouth, chewed, and swallowed it.

11. He makes you feel special because he comes from a very different world than you. And thus, you both find yourselves frequently in awe and in love with the other’s magical and foreign but also completely special interests and qualities.”