This place is my home. I am more comfortable on EP than I am anywhere else, and I like and respect more people here than I have ever in my real life. I enjoy coming here more than I enjoy doing pretty much anything else -- there have been times when I've been hanging out with other people, and all I have been thinking is, "I can't wait until I get home and can go on EP again." It's a rather sad little addiction, but with where I am in my life at the moment, it's a place that I desperately need.
Naturally, I kind of... blend my real life and my life on EP together. I don't mind posting pictures of myself, or telling you guys about what has been going on in my life. In fact, I have been more open and honest, and more forthcoming about personal problems or experiences on this site than I have with pretty much anyone else in my real life. You know, that thing I do when I'm not on the computer... it's one of the reasons, I think, that I find it hard to leave this place to go and do anything else. This is one of the few places where I know that I'm respected and generally well liked. I don't get that a lot in the real world, and it's something that I desperately crave a lot of the time. Some of this stems from what I personally find entertaining or enjoyable -- there aren't a lot of NES enthusiasts out in the world anymore, and even less in a small city like the one that I live in. But when I sign on here, I can talk about the most eclectic of topics and feel like I'm actually partaking in some form of a meaningful conversation beyond "what happened at work today" or "dude, check out the girl in Aisle 17. I could bounce a quarter off that ass."
I don't find a lot of stimulating conversation anywhere else, and I don't connect with people elsewhere the way that I do when I'm on EP. Therefore, I don't mind breaking out of my shell a little bit and letting my personal life flow into here. I don't mind posting pictures of myself (even though I'm not much to look at), or telling you guys stories about what my son did, or telling you guys the stupid shit that I have pulled (no one in my real life knows the microwaved jeans story). But I can do that on EP and feel comfortable doing it. Some of it is the anonymity, but some of it is just the reception and connection that I have with some of the more frequent members here.
I wouldn't say I'm especially "close" with a lot of you -- just one or two members -- but most of you I consider my friends. And most of you are better friends than the ones that I currently have. Because, with the occasional day missed for personal reasons (work, school, spending time with significant others), you are all here just as consistently as I am. And it's something that I've come to rely on. Pretty much every time I sign onto EP, doesn't matter what time of the morning/afternoon/evening/night that it is, there will be at least one person here who I genuinely respect and like.
Also, beer.