Okay, what the actual fuck? 18 years on this website just seems INSANE!
But it's true! I joined FA back in February of 2007 on a whim and never expected to post much. I was very insecure about my art and tentatively joining the fandom and just was coming out of an abusive relationship with my ex-boyfriend.
Luckily I was welcomed with open arms, things were much different and smaller back then.
I've kind of waivered throughout the years about sticking around, there is definitely lots of things within the fandom that were unsavory at the time and continue to be - albeit in more niche corners.

I've seen the fanbase grow and get more mainstream over the years, it's kind of wild seeing more people talk about it and furry-related stuff on places like Youtube,TikTok.. etc. But also really nothing new, it's just the scope of which it's been spoken about has grown. Lots of games and movies came out further pushing the fanbase into the limelight - for which I think is mostly for the better. The furry fandom got a bit less taboo as time went on and we have this surge of a new generation joining in.

I've met lots of artists over the years, some left the fandom, some passed - some kind of faded off.. but I guess that is true of all relationships in life.
Of course I met Skidd and we've been friends and later romantic partners, so I guess I have to thank Furaffinity for allowing that relationship to happen and blossom.
I've met lots of generous, kind and open folks over the years.. but also some real nasty individuals that I wouldn't want anyone to have to encounter and deal with.
Seriously though, be careful who you hang around - there are some vile creepers out there.

Anyways, perhaps maybe, I've made my little mark in the fandom - the world with our webcomic, art and streams. Perhaps this era of the furry-fandom we're in right now will be some what of a time capsule.
Maybe someday in the future when we're not around anymore, people will look back on the fanbase in our current time and analyze it.
Im certain video-essays and articles reporting on this stuff will go on into the future.

I know I already seen various documentation of stuff from the 90s, 2000s and 2010s with niche little corners of the internet like ours.
Sometimes I wonder how things will be in the next 10 years or so, will I still be kicking around? I'd like to think so.
Regardless what happens, I'm glad at least to have been alive and witnessed it. The fanbase gave a little shy weirdo like myself place in this world.
Im sure it will continue to do that for others.