Baseball itself is not for the faint-hearted. Watching the games takes patience. It often involves finding joy and entertainment in the smaller things (a good pitch, for example, or a sweaty fan caught doing the Cabbage Patch on camera). True baseball fans in general are already good boyfriend/girlfriend material. But this is America, damn it, and we don’t settle for good. If you want to go arm-in-arm with the best, Cubs fans are the only way to go, and here’s why.

1. We’re Loyal

If you know anything about baseball, this is a no-brainer. The last time we won the World Series was in 1908. The last time we played in a World Series was in 1945. There aren’t fair weather fans in the Cubs fan base. Yet we still fill up Wrigley like we win every game (right now we have a home attendance rate of 88%, nbd). We stand by a team whose record leans notoriously low. We’ll stand by you too, babe.

2. We're Positive

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How else do you expect us to be die-hard fans of a team that hasn’t won the World Series in over 100 years? Let’s say it together now: But this is our year. (But really, it is.)

3. We're Still Realistic

Even though we usually enter each year unreasonably optimistic, that doesn’t mean we don’t know when we’re stinking up Wrigley. We’ll be the first to admit when the Cubs are sucking: Lester, learn to throw to first. Castro, pay attention (We’re the only ones who can say it though. We don’t want to hear the irrelevant opinions of non-Cubs fans).

4. We Know the Best Pick-Me-Ups

Not really a surprise here. How do you stay positive and realistic about a team that’s infamously crappy? We know how to cheer ourselves up during particularly long losing streaks (Clue: it usually involves beer).

5. We're Passionate

The Cubs' Bleacher Bums were the first to ever throw an opposing team’s home-run ball back onto the field. We’re the only team that has special guests lead fans in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” every single game. We love baseball. We love the Cubbies.

6. We're Creative

We have some great inspiration from our players when it comes to thinking outside the box. Just check out the plays above.

7. We Appreciate a Good Sense of Community

If you’ve never been to Wrigley, you’re sorely missing out. Pat Gillick said when you think of the National League, you think of Wrigley and its fans. So basically we’re famous. And there is no baseball community like Wrigleyville. It’s a culture, a loud, beautiful, beer-soaked culture. Just put on a Rizzo jersey, and everyone’s your friend. If that’s not comradery at its finest, I don’t know what is.

8. We Know How to Celebrate

No matter how few and far between, every Cubs win makes us proud, and we will celebrate accordingly. And, hey, we learn from the best.

Real talk. The Cubs are kicking it this year. We’re ranked third in the National League. We currently have a hold on a wild card spot. We have a first baseman who jumped (over the tarp and) into the crowd to catch a foul ball, and our star pitcher Jake Arrieta just pitched a no-hitter. You want someone to celebrate these wins with, and who better than someone who bleeds that Cubbie blue?