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This might not be my very last post on Paizo.com, but I think the end is near.
And I'm not Paizo's biggest fan. So many fans here raved about so many Paizo products while I felt that only a few of them were all that great. But I loved the messageboards so much, I felt the pressure to show my support, so I spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on Paizo merchandise (and other products through Paizo's store).
Then in 2010, I thought I was going to lose my job; my position was going to move to another state where I wasn't willing to move because of my family. That news made me decide to put aside RPGs and pursue cheaper hobbies. I had to suspend my Paizo wish list. My belief that I would soon be unemployed also sent me into something of a depression, discouraging me not only from buying RPG material, but also playing RPGs and posting on these boards. There was a time that year when I didn't post for 35 days, which remained my record until this very year.
But later in 2010, the president of the company found a different position for me; I didn't lose my job after all! The first thing I did to celebrate was buy stuff from Paizo's store.
So from 2009 to 2013 I was a prolific poster; I wrote over 2000 posts in less than 4 years, despite that period of depression in 2010.
But - by way of comparison - in the last four years, I didn't even post 400 messages. As Paizo had more and more inter-product references, I felt it was drifting away from the game I wanted to play. My son used to champion PFRPG, while I felt that D&D 3.0 was superior (even as I used Paizo products with it). Consequently, we played both. But in the last year, both of us lost interest in RPGs. We still read many RPG products on my shelf, including many by Paizo, but neither of us wants to play. My son flipped through the PFRPG 2nd Edition playtest manual and didn't like it.
This year, I truly did lose my job. I'm now unemployed and I have little reason for optimism that I will get another job any time soon.
I should be thankful for what I do have. Better to lose my job now than in 2010. My family won't starve or lose the house or anything. But I decided that I need to cut down on buying those luxury items like gaming products.
You'd think with no job I would have more time, but no. I decided that I need to spend a lot of time job-hunting, and a lot MORE time training myself in skills relating to my ever-changing profession, as my skills are hopelessly out of date. I realized that I should spend less time doing the fun stuff, so I no longer browse these messageboards daily.
Well, I still read fantasy novels. And I recently was able to make a point regarding one such novel, so yesterday I posted in the "What books are you currently reading?" thread. But as I did, I realized that it was my first post in 41 days - a new record. I see that as a sign that my paizo.com-browsing days are numbered.
It's a pity. On my way to a certain job-hunting organization - just a hop, skip and jump from my house - I found a new gaming store. I talked to the guy who runs the store, a passionate gamer who runs a D&D 5th Edition campaign in that store with his friends during certain hours when it's closed. (And I should mention that the place has many Pathfinder books and other Paizo gaming products on display for sale.) A few years ago, I would have regarded such a discovery as a godsend. Now, I'm doing nothing about it. What a waste, and what a shame, but I just don't have the passion I used to, and I can't make the commitment to a regular game. I expect it will be years before the RPG bug bites me again.
I spoilerized my depressed rambling above to make sure you would read my main point: You're a great community, and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I wish success and fun for all of you. And thank you, Paizo. The last decade has been quite a trip for me.
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Not to be That Guy, but even while leveling up your job skillz you still gotta take some time to have fun, even if It's not as frequent as you'd like.
I understand not wanting to spend money, and I also understand if you feel like you've moved on from RPGs, just so you have SOMETHING to refresh yourself with.
Good luck with both the hunt and training!
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Good luck, Aaron.
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It happens. I used to frequent some other game forums that I dont even lurk anymore. Tastes chance, situations change, moods change. Ive gone through phases where I played only vids, then only BGs, and then only RPGs. Now I try to do a little of each. Sometimes a little absence is all you need to rekindle interest; Sometimes it wont. It's all good.
Good luck on the job search. I'm betting it will be easier than you think!
Be safe and careful on your path ahead, and may you find the Wisdom you seek on your journey.
May it not cost too much.
Very good luck to you, and hope the job search goes speedily and well.
Aaron, I wish you the best of luck.
Good luck, Aaron. We'll leave a candle in the window for you.
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So... your former employer... youse mind if'n I ask Don Pugwampione if me and somma 'da Wampi Yutes pays 'em a visit? It sounds like their luck
(•_•)-
(-•_•)>⌐■-■-
(⌐■_■)
is about to run out.
Ok. That emoji cracked me up.
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Thank you, everyone, for the kind words.
Best of luck with everything Aaron hoping you job search is a success and that you can find time to return here now and again.
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You do what you gotta.
Just bear in mind, at once point I traipsed away from these forums for nearly three years before posting again...
We'll leave a light on for ya, all I'm saying.