What's the biggest change to your life since you joined the Dope?

In My Humble Opinion
101

Since I joined in February, 2001, a lot has happened:

I got very sick, stayed that way for two years, and then got well. I did a bunch of traveling to a lot of places, got a master’s degree, moved to NYC, got married, started a doctoral program, got divorced, dropped out the doctoral program, and started working for myself. I’ve just started working with someone else to expand my micro-business.

My cousin passed away in October, so I’ve been rethinking my priorities. Within the next few years, I want to take a couple of years off to travel the Incan road system and either blog or write a book about it. I’m thinking about how to make that happen, starting with making sure I’m in good physical and financial shape to do it.

Whew. I just realized how much has changed in these past 14 years or so! I wonder what the next 14 years have in store for me.

102

I joined in 2000. Since then, I’ve been divorced, then met and married SWMBO. I’ve also been inducted as a Master Instructor in Taekwondo.

103

Mom died. First the grief of losing her and then being the representative for her estate. Lots of stress, some friction with the sibs.

Big flood, up to basement ceiling. Lots of dealing with insurance companies. Did my own cleanup. Took almost my whole summer of 2013.

Much loved dog of 14 years died.

Much loved cat of 14 years died. (not at the same time as the dog)

Bought new house, moved out of flood house.

Two medical events, one viral, one injury, both temporarily incapacitated me and really left me feeling my own mortality.