"Oh, it's pouring down rain outside with crackling thunder and lightning? Don't worry, it'll pass in a few minutes."

After being born and raised in Florida for almost 17 years and traveling to a number of other states across the U.S., I can tell you with complete confidence that Florida is like no other state. Sure, we have our beaches and beach bums, like you would expect from a superficial glance, but I assure you that Florida is much more multifaceted than it's pristinely white beaches would lead you to believe.

So, here are five reasons that prove Florida is the strangest of all 50 states.

1. It sticks out like a sore thumb.

Geographically speaking, Florida just does not want to mesh with the other 50 states. Though Hawaii and Alaska are like states' cousins five times removed, Florida's like the kid dragged to all of the family reunions only to see that her relatives are nothing like she is, but she has to stay at the reunion anyway. She just decides to hang out by herself and avoid all of those relatives' pesky questions about what she's been doing these past 171 years.

2. The Weather

The bipolarness of Florida's weather cannot be overstated, and I cannot tell you how many times I've seen someone post a picture similar to the one above. One minute, you're laying on the beach, attempting to get a tan, and the next minute the heavens have opened up and you're running for shelter. Luckily, however, if you just wait a few moments, the rain will lighten up, and you'll be able to resume your activities as normal. Besides, these thunderstorms happen practically every day, so you get used to it.

Aside from the daily rain showers, Florida is know to have only two seasons: the hot season and the not-so-hot season. The "hot" season usually lasts from April through October, with temperatures getting as high as 100+ degrees and humidity being almost always in the 90th percentile. The "not-so-hot" season usually lasts from late October through March, with temperatures dropping below freezing (especially in northern Florida) but usually staying within the 50s and 60s. However, a white Christmas is virtually never in sight. Here in Pensacola, Christmas 2015 was muggy and in the 70s!

3. It's a Southern State, but It's Not Really "Southern"

In Florida, the further north you go, the deeper south you get. Sure, you can come to Florida and get your fair share of both southern gentry and rednecks, but if you start heading down towards Orlando and Miami, north Florida and south Florida begin to seem like completely different worlds.

In a political sense, Florida is usually a swing state, meaning that Florida's 29 electoral college votes can either go to the democratic presidential candidate or the republican presidential candidate, depending on how she's feeling that year. For instance, in the 2012 election with Barack Obama versus Mitt Romney, Florida just barely chose Romney (50.0%) over Obama (49.1%). That year, it was the only state decided by less than one percent. This divide is usually due to north Florida being more conservative and south Florida being more liberal.

4. Unparalleled Crime

Newscaster: "Man makes off with $5,000 worth of ducks by hot-wiring an empty Walmart truck, police say..."

Floridian: "Please don't be from Florida. Please don't be from Florida..."

Newscaster: "The crime took place this morning at 1 A.M. in Orlando, Florida..."

Floridian: "Dang it."

Though the above dialoge and crime didn't really happen, Florida has seen some strange news stories, from a woman biting her roommate about a fight over a dog to a woman suing a philanthropist over a donkey attack.

According to World Atlas, Florida is the fifth most dangerous state in the U.S., with Alaska taking the number one slot. Additionally, 11 of the nation's 100 most dangerous cities are in Florida.

I guess Florida really is a sunny place for shady people.

5. There is No One Defining Characteristic

Despite Florida's, well, interesting traits, she really does have it all: good weather, beaches, Disney World (better than Disneyland, FYI), diversity, progressives, conservatives, good universities (I'm looking at you, University of Florida), military bases, beautiful nature parks, tourist hubs, amazing highway systems, good food, and much, much more. Though I enjoy traveling elsewhere, Florida's always going to be my home and comfort. I wouldn't want to grow up anywhere else!

Florida may be bipolar, but you can't help but love her. Believe me, your state has nothing on Florida!