I would literally go nuts

[Jersey Girl]

if I didn't have you guys to talk to right now. I'm dead dog serious. Most of the folks that I interact with in real life are not on the same page as me. I've got people who are skeptical of the election results, folks scared shitless of the new vaccines because they were made so fast, folks traveling long distances when I think they should not--though I deeply understand why they are going, and basically, I have no one around me who (this is going to sound really arrogant and I don't mean it to be) is as intellectually curious as I am and who devotes themselves to trying to investigate things that even I don't understand myself much of the time but still, I make a strong effort to understand.

In an odd way, posting here helps me to feed back to my own self what I think I know or have learned. You guys have even helped me to become at least someone literate when it comes to politics which is a topic I have never cared about in my entire life.

You don't flip out when I mention prayer or give a believing perspective on something. And while you may not always agree with the things I say and push back at them (like I WANT you to), you accept me here regardless of what mood or mindset I am in when I show up on your screen. Whether I take part in discussion, post on my music therapy thread to quiet my mind, joke around or rant. I hope you feel the same coming from my end of the deal.

I mean it sincerely that I would have gone completely nuts this year without all of you to check in with, to read, to find resources, think about opinions, to benefit from the skills that you each have.

I mean it folks. I would have lost my mind by now if you weren't all "out there". There are my people and then...there are my people. Some of them are you guys and you are part of my intellectual tribe.

Thank you so much,
Jersey

*Guys in the Jersey sense. Both men and women. Not leaving anyone out. You know who you are.

[Moksha]

People, where I live, are crazy conservatives. Fortunately, the LDS Church keeps them from doing insane conservative stuff like human sacrifices. Not too many people on this board are like that, thank God.

[Philo Sofee]

We are here for ya Jersey, now git back in there and keep goin nuts......

[Gunnar]

I appreciate this site too and what I have learned from the interactions with the others here. You are definitely my oldest friend here, having gotten to know you on other sites long before I joined this one. I greatly appreciate most of the people here, but none more than I do you. Maybe I will get to meet you in person some day. I imagine that will be one of the highlights of my life, if and when that ever occurs. I'm sure it would be a greater thrill for me than for you. I'm rather ordinary in real life.

[Jersey Girl]

I appreciate this site too and what I have learned from the interactions with the others here. You are definitely my oldest friend here, having gotten to know you on other sites long before I joined this one. I greatly appreciate most of the people here, but none more than I do you. Maybe I will get to meet you in person some day. I imagine that will be one of the highlights of my life, if and when that ever occurs. I'm sure it would be a greater thrill for me than for you. I'm rather ordinary in real life.

I was out there twice in a 2 year period for 2 weekend conferences. I didn't know where you were and we hadn't been in contact for a while. My guess is I was very near you! Don't give up your location but... I was in Roseville. I think I mentioned that to you previously.

I could kick myself for not asking Craig where you were. He and his fiance' at the time drove there to meet up with me. Maybe I could just kick Craig!

To this day, when I can't sleep or just need a place to land my mind, I can see your name online and say to myself "Oh thank God, Gunnar is up!"

After all these years it's still kind of a comfort to know you are out there. You are my trusted friend who lives in my head and has done so for 21 years!

[Jersey Girl]

People, where I live, are crazy conservatives. Fortunately, the LDS Church keeps them from doing insane conservative stuff like human sacrifices. Not too many people on this board are like that, thank God.

The folks I communicate and interact with in real life are a mixed bag and often, a mixed bag of contradictions. It puzzles me and worries me.

Speaking of human sacrifices. At this point, I wouldn't be at all surprised to wake up one morning to an announcement for...wait for it...

PRESIDENT'S NEW PROGRAM TO END FOOD INSECURITY IN AMERICA: Trump SOYLENT GREEN!

[Jersey Girl]

We are here for ya Jersey, now git back in there and keep goin nuts......

Get this. When this whole pandemic thing broke loose I was already on the heels of a long winter's case of cabin fever. It snows here through May. Guess what? With the wildfires all summer I couldn't get outside much so it never really ended for me. I must have some kind of good coping skills if I'm coming up on a year long case of cabin fever and listening to weird ideas from people without popping off on them entirely.

My only fear is that due to my introversion, I might be working my way towards total recluse. I'm not joking here, Philo Sofee. I can't stand the sound of human voices any more. That's one reason why boards like this suit me so much. I can't hear you guys and I can shut you off when I want to.

[Gunnar]

I appreciate this site too and what I have learned from the interactions with the others here. You are definitely my oldest friend here, having gotten to know you on other sites long before I joined this one. I greatly appreciate most of the people here, but none more than I do you. Maybe I will get to meet you in person some day. I imagine that will be one of the highlights of my life, if and when that ever occurs. I'm sure it would be a greater thrill for me than for you. I'm rather ordinary in real life.

I was out there twice in a 2 year period for 2 weekend conferences. I didn't know where you were and we hadn't been in contact for a while. My guess is I was very near you! Don't give up your location but... I was in Roseville. I think I mentioned that to you previously.

I could kick myself for not asking Craig where you were. He and his fiance' at the time drove there to meet up with me. Maybe I could just kick Craig!

Yes, you did mention that. If I had known that not only you, but Craig were meeting up in Sacramento at the time, I would have made it a point to drive there too with my wife and daughters to meet you. I think you would have enjoyed meeting them. They share many interests with you.

To this day, when I can't sleep or just need a place to land my mind, I can see your name online and say to myself "Oh thank God, Gunnar is up!"

After all these years it's still kind of a comfort to know you are out there. You are my trusted friend who lives in my head and has done so for 21 years!

I'm deeply touched and honored that you feel that way about me.

[Philo Sofee]

We are here for ya Jersey, now git back in there and keep goin nuts......

Get this. When this whole pandemic thing broke loose I was already on the heels of a long winter's case of cabin fever. It snows here through May. Guess what? With the wildfires all summer I couldn't get outside much so it never really ended for me. I must have some kind of good coping skills if I'm coming up on a year long case of cabin fever and listening to weird ideas from people without popping off on them entirely.

My only fear is that due to my introversion, I might be working my way towards total recluse. I'm not joking here, Philo Sofee. I can't stand the sound of human voices any more. That's one reason why boards like this suit me so much. I can't hear you guys and I can shut you off when I want to.

Sounds like a perfect strategy too! Lol!
Yeah I have been isolating as much as possible, but video games are helping, as is reading some of the more philosophical materials I have owned for years and never gotten into them. I am also learning how to bake! True story! I'm gettin ta be a little bit better of a cook, and its a hoot to do man! I had no idea it was this fun preparing food. I mean eatin it, hells yeah! But preparing it adds a dimension I never before had supposed was possible! Weird huh? Well, don't go crazy, go to the boards and yammer. I love this place!

[Jersey Girl]

Sounds like a perfect strategy too! Lol!
Yeah I have been isolating as much as possible, but video games are helping, as is reading some of the more philosophical materials I have owned for years and never gotten into them. I am also learning how to bake! True story! I'm gettin ta be a little bit better of a cook, and its a hoot to do man! I had no idea it was this fun preparing food. I mean eatin it, hells yeah! But preparing it adds a dimension I never before had supposed was possible! Weird huh? Well, don't go crazy, go to the boards and yammer. I love this place!

Baking? Baking is therapy. What are you baking?