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*you approach a weathered but not old man sitting by a fire. You recognize him, but have never talked to him before. Something in his gaze tells you to sit down, and listen to his story.....*

I know I stay pretty quiet on here lately (and by lately I mean the past 10 years) but I do still pop up from time to time.

I'm approaching 16 years on NationStates. I just think about all that's happened in that 16 years. All that's changed in my life, on the site, the change I've watched in others. I've gone through partners, careers, friends, EVERYTHING, and I've always logged into NationStates throughout it all. When I started playing I was only 15 years old. I had a region called Du Maurier, and we had an alliance (this is before it was a game mechanic, it was literally just a handshake agreement and some text you'd enter into the WFE) with a region called Hippidom, which of course is the mother of the region we have here today. The leader was Hard line commies back then. We don't chat as much as we used to, but I still come across telegrams like this one:

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Hard line commies
12 years 167 days ago

Hey friend,

How are you doing! I've wondered what you been upto! I became very inactive for awhile. Lost interest in NS. Most of my nations died, when I cam on about two months ago Hippiedom was down to 32 nations. So I started recruiting and one of the nations I recruited started a forum, so the region has grown, and added a feature. With you here it is better then ever. Great news. Hope you choose to stay and play an active role ion the region!!
How ya doing?

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We battled fascism, the far right in the times of Operation Iraqi Freedom, George W. Bush (who honestly doesn't even look that bad now), and in a very fresh post 9/11 world. Things on the site were much more bare-bones back then, and the game has gone through some incredible changes.

Like I said before, I know I don't pipe up much, but I'm always here checking in. Have a great year everyone, and thanks for always being there!

*you sit in silence for a while and listen to the popping of the fire. You look over and the stump the man was sitting on is now empty. Did he get up without you noticing or.....was he ever really there at all? you stand up, and carry on into the forest.......*