It has been over a decade – how has your life really changed?

[nbcrusader]

I am connected to a few members of Interference on Facebook, and one messaged me yesterday and mentioned this forum. I thought I’d log back into my old account (I started what I will call a sabbatical in June 2006 after about 4 years of regular participation).

Interference will always hold a special place in my heart, giving me exposure to a large cross-section of society brought together with a common interest – U2. I also learned the art of on-line debate – quite a useful skill to have before the social media explosion (Facebook wasn’t available to the general public before September 2006).

For my background, 2006 was a busy time. My father was developing Alzheimer’s (he passed in 2012), my former employer merged, eliminating my level in the organization, I started with a new position with a rapidly growing company, all while my wife and I were busy with two young elementary school aged children. Today, I am moving my college graduate son to the East Coast to start his adult career (leaving tomorrow morning), helping my high-school senior daughter with her college applications and looking forward to the empty nest years with my beautiful wife.

It was a pleasant surprise to see all the familiar names still involved here after all these years. I look forward to getting reacquainted with all of you and re-engaging in our discussion of life.

So, to start, now that we have lived through the W years, the Obama era and now entered the new Trump years, how has life changed for you?

[BVS]

has it really been that long?

Apparently I've developed a sense of humor.

My beard is starting to get a few white hairs.

Good having you back.

[anitram]

old-timer!

Since 2006, I have graduated from law school and have been practicing as a corporate and securities lawyer. After graduation I traveled quite a bit and spend a significant length of time in southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Angola) which left me with life-long impressions and a desire to return there as soon as is practicable. I met my now husband shortly after graduating - we got married, bought a house, a German Shepherd, had a son and now a daughter on the way. My husband is my partner and my best friend, he's an extremely successful economist and so I've evolved a lot of my views on economics living with an expert which has been a good thing. I lost my last 3 grandparents in a short span before I got married. They all played major roles in my life since they were around until I was in my late 20s or early 30s. I often feel like I didn't really get a proper chance to grieve and process it all because they were in fairly quick succession and it came at a very busy time of life for me. It would have been nice to have them at my wedding.

I think back to how young I was in 2006, in many respects. But as they say about having children, I feel it applies to us as well - the days are long but the years are short.

[IWasBored]

I remember you, didn't realize it was that long ago either. Your name came up in the politics thread the other day and I was like oh ya I remember that guy.

In 2006 I graduated from college, finally got my driver's license, and got my emt card so I could find a job til I figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I still haven't figured that out, but I went to paramedic school and I've been doing that going on almost 8 years now. I moved across country to Colorado, where I live with my boyfriend and two cats. There's another huge life change that I mentioned in another thread that I don't necessarily feel like getting into right here, but I'd say my life changed a bunch over the last 10 years--definitely for the better.

[bono_212]

I also can't believe it's been that long, since I remember you clearly, but didn't start posting here until 2005.

Anyways, I'm now a Master of Digital Media (so useful) and working in Sports in LA. Fun fun times.

[DaveC]

Originally Posted by BVS

has it really been that long?

Originally Posted by IWasBored

I remember you, didn't realize it was that long ago either.

Originally Posted by bono_212

I also can't believe it's been that long, since I remember you clearly, but didn't start posting here until 2005.

it hasn't been that long. OP has more than 225 posts in 2013.

[bono_212]

[IWasBored]

Originally Posted by DaveC

it hasn't been that long. OP has more than 225 posts in 2013.

And Aeon is probably his facebook friend, hoping to bring back a conservative to help defend fascism. Or something.

[cobl04]

My life has completely changed. I joined this forum as a lonely teenager who found solace in U2's music. Over the next few years it was the one constant. I was a virgin until I was 23, which really weighed on me a lot, but as I type this I'm the happiest I've ever been. I have a truly wonderful partner, I went on a personal development and youth leadership camp that gave me new life and on which I've been part of the leadership team ever since, I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder, which I work with, not against, I've got a great job, the most amazing cat, life is grand.

[Axver]

Originally Posted by DaveC

it hasn't been that long. OP has more than 225 posts in 2013.

I was going to say that I thought he had briefly returned at some point recently.

Honestly, I find the person I was in 2006 almost completely unrecognisable. I joined here an angry, lonely teenager living on the hellhole that is the Gold Coast. That year I moved to Brisbane to start university, but only stayed there a year before transferring my studies to Melbourne. I spent ten mostly excellent years there. The best city in the world; I cannot imagine enjoying living anywhere else as much.

Around the time of that move south I lost what remained of my teenage infatuation with religion. I very much regret that religious phase because it made my teenage years all the more miserable, but I also value the experience for the stories and perspective it left me with. In Melbourne I had a year of serious untreated depression (that's the year so much of my stupendous post count comes from, since this was the one place I connected with people), but around that point I learnt to relax. I have to credit that in no small part to the relationship I entered at the time, which was with another Interferencer; we lived together for more than five mostly good years before it came to what was, in hindsight, a necessary denouement.

The other thing that really helped me become a much happier, more contented person was studying for my PhD in History. I researched a project I loved, surrounded by colleagues who became firm friends. My PhD was conferred in 2014 and I've been working as a historian ever since. I also became involved in the Melbourne music scene, especially its shoegaze niche, and that has sustained me greatly over the last seven or eight years. My career has, unfortunately, led me away from Melbourne; I recently moved to Wollongong to take up an academic post here for the next three years. It's not much of a city but I'm excited about the job; I get to work on another project I love. I've written three books now and nothing matters to me more than History.

[Cin]

I downloaded the app yesterday after a long time away. It's pretty fancy these days! Back then I was co-managing a fabric store and in the midst of a marriage break up. This place was my home. Now I'm volunteering at an animal shelter, living in a little flat in my parents backyard and finally doing my divorce paperwork. So happy to see lots of familiar folks still here.

[cobl04]

I hope life is going okay

[Axver]

Cin!

Fantastic to see you around here again.

[Galeongirl]

Originally Posted by Cin

I downloaded the app yesterday after a long time away. It's pretty fancy these days! Back then I was co-managing a fabric store and in the midst of a marriage break up. This place was my home. Now I'm volunteering at an animal shelter, living in a little flat in my parents backyard and finally doing my divorce paperwork. So happy to see lots of familiar folks still here.

Glad to hear you're doing okay! You really went through quite a rough patch over the years.


Like Ax and Cobbler, I also got here as a teenager. I never fit in, got bullied, this place quickly became my home. In the past ten years, so much has happened. I finally figured out what was wrong with me, why I was so different (autism), why I could never focus and had so much trouble with subjects I didn't care about (ADD). I learned so much about myself and how to deal with things, that with a delay I finished my bachelor's degree in Chemistry and a master's in Medicinal Chemistry. I now work as a software developer for a big company. I also just bought a house this summer and am now finally living on my own with 2 kittens. Before this I still lived at home cause I could not afford a house of my own. I never wanted a student house and regular rentals suck here to get. But now I have a proper job and some savings and I managed to get my own flat. Life's pretty damn good. Interference was with me for the worst moments of my life, but also the best now. It's really, really strange that all these strangers on the internet helped me through so much stuff. And now I've even gone and met you guys and some are even close friends now (and one's a coworker, lol). All that's missing for now is the relationship void, been there, tried that, stuff's hard. But eventually that'll be okay too. Meanwhile I'm pretty damn okay alone with my kitties. Perhaps the crazy cat lady life ain't so bad!

[bono_212]

So glad to hear from you Cin. Always been hoping you're doing well.

[DrTeeth]

Originally Posted by IWasBored

I remember you, didn't realize it was that long ago either. Your name came up in the politics thread the other day and I was like oh ya I remember that guy.

In 2006 I graduated from college, finally got my driver's license, and got my emt card so I could find a job til I figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I still haven't figured that out, but I went to paramedic school and I've been doing that going on almost 8 years now. I moved across country to Colorado, where I live with my boyfriend and two cats. There's another huge life change that I mentioned in another thread that I don't necessarily feel like getting into right here, but I'd say my life changed a bunch over the last 10 years--definitely for the better.

Eyewubbee

Let's see... I graduated, got a job, got a cat, met this amazing woman, fell in love, got an even bigger beard, bought a house, got a better job, became a dad of an amazing little boy.

I guess it's been an eventful decade

[TinKnight]

I was in high school ten years ago. I was miserable and overweight and frequently had bouts of bad OCD with religion and sexuality. I eventually mellowed out at the end of high school which lead to a lot of good stuff...

Got a girlfriend, who I've been with for a long long time.

Got a new little brother. I've grown really close to my family, even though I don't live in the same state as them anymore.

Stopped some of my old hobbies (tennis), and focussed on new hobbies (following a stupid band called U2)

Graduated high school, graduated college, got a job as an engineer. I studied computer science because I thought it would lead to better job security (it has), but my passions have always been literature and storytelling. I regret not going that path in college, but the grass is always greener.

I hate being an engineer; I want to be a TV writer.

Oh, and I really want a pet bird.

[Bluer White]

Hello again nbc

[kiwilad]

Wow. This thread is a bit mind blowing. I've lurked on here since well before 2006 but barley ever post.
Why?
Mostly cause I find it so intimidating. All these regulars who I presume are so cool, confident, faultless, together, know each other so well etc.
Then these wee testimonials show how these terrifying avatars are really real people going through the same shit as me, the struggles and pain. And Galeongirl is on the autism spectrum! Shit! Me too! Mind blown.
So yeah. Even for lurkers like me who you all know nothing about and never see my name pop up, I'm still here, and you lot and this place has been and still is really important for me.

[cobl04]

Originally Posted by Galeongirl

Glad to hear you're doing okay! You really went through quite a rough patch over the years.


Like Ax and Cobbler, I also got here as a teenager. I never fit in, got bullied, this place quickly became my home. In the past ten years, so much has happened. I finally figured out what was wrong with me, why I was so different (autism), why I could never focus and had so much trouble with subjects I didn't care about (ADD). I learned so much about myself and how to deal with things, that with a delay I finished my bachelor's degree in Chemistry and a master's in Medicinal Chemistry. I now work as a software developer for a big company. I also just bought a house this summer and am now finally living on my own with 2 kittens. Before this I still lived at home cause I could not afford a house of my own. I never wanted a student house and regular rentals suck here to get. But now I have a proper job and some savings and I managed to get my own flat. Life's pretty damn good. Interference was with me for the worst moments of my life, but also the best now. It's really, really strange that all these strangers on the internet helped me through so much stuff. And now I've even gone and met you guys and some are even close friends now (and one's a coworker, lol). All that's missing for now is the relationship void, been there, tried that, stuff's hard. But eventually that'll be okay too. Meanwhile I'm pretty damn okay alone with my kitties. Perhaps the crazy cat lady life ain't so bad!

We had a long PM chain going for a while, haha. Reckon that helped build my confidence