@nikipedia! How nice to see you after such a long time. I’ve missed you.
I’m in my tenth year too and will mark that milestone in November. When I joined Fluther, I had no idea what I was getting into (or I’d have picked a different name and avatar). I did leave for two years, but came back for Gail in October of 2015 and have stayed since then.
Since 2008, I’ve retired from a job in high tech, seen my elder son graduate from law school, seen my younger through some very tough times, and found out what it’s like to live with chronic illnesses and pain, my own and others’. I’m closer to oncoming decrepitude than I was ten years ago, but I think my brains are still mostly working, although vocabulary and memory retention are seeing some erosion.
Nonetheless, I’m still what they call a lifelong learner. I dig into new material and practice new skills all the time. And I believe my father’s teaching: “It’s not the answers that are important. It’s the questions.” He was a philosopher.
Probably the biggest change is the forced lessons I’ve had to learn through witnessing close up the effects of substance abuse. I’ve had to discover and try to mend a lot of shortcomings in myself, around boundaries and control and other obstacles to serenity. It’s an ongoing challenge.
I’ve burnt a few bridges and built a few others, and I hope I’ve gained as much as I’ve lost.
Thank you for asking. And how about you?