What has happened to you in your time as a Doper?

March of '99 here. Let’s see…

Got married and gained a stepdaughter.
Lived in Arlington, VA for a couple years.
Got divorced and moved back into DC.
Quit the federal contracting job I’d worked in for several years because I was ultimately going nowhere with it.
Got into a relationship and broke her heart in a very nasty way.
Moved to Turkey to teach English and pursue a relationship. Neither worked out.
Moved to Sweden to pursue a relationship.
Got married and gained two stepsons.
Moved out when it became clear that the marriage was actually causing economic harm.
Started translating freelance.
Bounced through a couple apartments.
Lost my stepdad.
Got hired by one of my former clients, working through a few projects to try to keep the company moving forward.
About to apply for a renewal of my residence permit.

Joined a long time ago. 2000?

I’ve gone to college
Gotten engaged
Got married
Moved three or four times
Met a lifelong friend
Had two babies and a miscarriage
Become Catholic
Read a lot of books
Moved in with said lifelong friend (who gracefully tolerated us and our babies)
Gotten, gotten rid of, and got re-stuck with our two cats
Dad got Parkinson’s. Treatment’s going well
Aunt died
Helped husband through eight years of martial arts training
Sewed a lot of friend’s wedding dresses
None of that’s in order. Oh, well.

I read and posted on the straight dope when it resided at AOL. I joined here in July of 1999. I lurk more than I post, but not really much has changed in the last 11 years.

I still have the same job
I still live in the same place
I have redecorated the room from which I usually post
After more than twenty years as a non-drinker, I resumed drinking wine and beer mostly in moderation.

This and that.

Me too at 43. Yours seems to be going better.

I’ve gained a rabbit and a PlayStation 3. Although I guess the rabbit belongs more to my kids and my wife.

Both of my paternal grandparents turned 80.

My cousin gave birth to her second child (first daughter.)

My (wife’s) niece turned 18 and moved out on her own. We hope she will go to postsecondary soon.

I found out a second cousin of mine is gay. He’s a teenager.

Next September, my youngest will be off to school.

Joined in 2003 but lurked for about a year before that.

  • Graduated high school.
  • Had a mental breakdown.
  • Did a year of university before decided a tech school program was for me.
  • Last remaining grandparent died.
  • Graduated from the tech school program.
  • Got a job.
  • Moved out of parents’ place.
  • Moved to a different city.
  • Brother got married.
  • Lost job.
  • Got new job.
  • Moved cities again for new job.
  • Had another mental breakdown.
  • Got a niece.

Graduated from college.
Started to grad school in field I’d dreamed of my whole life.
Moved boroughs.
Hated grad school.
Got a brown belt in tae kwon do/hapkido.
Got chronically ill.
Had to withdraw from graduate program and drop martial arts.
Got engaged.
Got married.
Moved boroughs.
Started different graduate program in different field.
Got better.
Graduated.
Mostly unemployed for 2.5 years since.
Became advocate for sexual assault/domestic violence patients.
Ran for and joined synagogue board.
Dealing with infertility.
Eight major international trips-for-fun are scattered through this time period, but I’m not outlining them all.

Honestly, the last decade has not been awesome. I’m hoping for a better next decade.

When I registered in July 2001 (because only registered users were going to be allowed to search), I was married, three kids (one step), had two dogs and four cats, buying a house, and worked for the state.

I still work for the same agency, but have had a couple of job changes. This time last year, after 14 years in the same hidden cubicle, I got moved out to the general population (but I brought my chair). It is so bright out here, with the windows and such. And loud.

Kids grew up and graduated from high school. Much drama with all that, but it got done.

Husband became disabled when he lost his mind; we ended up divorcing in part because he decided to let loose his inner bigot. The run up and end result of presidential election strained my marriage, which I still find both hilarious and slightly unbelievable. I don’t hear from the step-son anymore, which is understandable. The ex doesn’t hear from my kids either. I haven’t spoken to my ex since he called in July to say his support check was late. Oh yeah, I didn’t use to pay spousal support, but I do now.

We sold the house and he got most of the proceeds. I used my part on the down payment for my new place.

I have a grandson now, and he lives with me. My oldest daughter is my other roommate. Younger daughter, grandson’s mom, lived with us a while, but that just didn’t work out. She sees him on weekends.

I lost the two original dogs, gained four more, lost three of those in the divorce, had to have the fourth put down shortly after the divorce, and then gained six more. I had to have all the cats put down over the last few years; for the first time in about 30 years, I have no cats in my house.

Things didn’t work out the way I planned, but do they ever?

When I joined:

I had just lost my grandmother who practically raised me
I had just had my 7th (and final) miscarriage

Since then:

I have found a group of people to ‘talk’ to so I don’t feel so alone
I have adopted two wonderful children

Hasn’t been so long.
Continued raising Kiddo on my own until a few months ago, when I moved in with a surprise girlfriend- neither of us expected anything so intense or quick.
Now living a bit further away and commuting- not doing the Parent Teacher Organization as much due to the distance…
Not drinking as much (hardly at all compared to like a fish), but I have been dealing with pretty potent meds while my back stuff is sorted out. Second round of shots coming up in January.

Life is great… Too great…

Lost some family, but gained some more.

Hoping for a little sibling for Kiddo soon…