FA+
Shop
A Decade, 2019, and 2020 So far.,
5 years ago
So its the end of the 2010s and we are now in the 2020s. This past decade, for me at least, has had its share of ups and downs. And this particular past year has been a downer, even bleeding into the first 3 days of 2020. But instead of going year by year i think i will just do like the pros and cons of different aspects of my decade up to 2018 and then i will do a section just for 2019 and maybe my hopes for 2020 and the coming years
2010-2018
Conventions and Furry Stuff
So these years saw me going to quite a few conventions, as well as making a change. Megaplex became my non-missable con replacing FWA. I never missed a Megaplex the whole decade and got to watch it grow and evolve each year. I had the oppurtunity to go a few other different furry events, some of which are sadly no longer happening like Rocket City Fur Meet, and the Florida based Elliots Live Events. I was also a frequent and reliable attendee for the Furloween dance party and picnic as well as the Fursonification beach party. For the most part most of my furry event attending happened within the state as it was more convenient and more within the allocated budgets, however i did go back to FWA twice. Possibly the biggest step out of my comfort zone was getting on a plane and going to MFF for the first time, and hopefully not the last. Outside furry i got to go to Megacon in Orlando a couple of times. THrough many of these cons and events i got to meet quite a few people in the voice acting field such as Rob Paulson (who i first met in 2005), Maurice LeMarche, and Jim Cummings.
Furrywise these years also saw the arrival of my first fursuit by
hindpaws in 2012, with the help of my friend 
doubled I had always dreamed of getting my own first ever since i became enamored with them at my first furrycon, I also, over the decade got to meet alot of amazing and cool furries both here and at cons, many of which have become good friends. Ive also met alot of the Youtube fur community as well, including the likes of Corey Coyote and crew from Damn Dog Games, Adler the Eagle and Artemis Wishfoot
Not everything was rosy though as i experienced a few moments of negativity, mostly after cons usually due to my less than stellar social cues and imn some cases my own paw fetish. I have a history of occasionally rubbing people the wrong way despite meaning well and it showed a few times, even as far as a ban from a Florida based event. However alot of people have told me that since the beginning of the decade i have improved year after year. Also a couple of friends moved away that i used to hang with both in and out of cons so that was also a bummer.
Personal Life
2010 to 2018 saw a few changes happen to my life, some good some bad. in 2012 i graduated college finally. Took a decade just to get my bachelors degree but i got it. I got to indulge in my out of furry hobbies like cars and planes and stuff by going to various car and airshows, including an RV show or two. Work wise i got a promotion back to the position i was at when i started so never really moved forward with it. Family wise i got to do a few fun things like a 2012 trip with my mother to Key West which was amazing along with a few trips back to NY for family stuff. I also went to Las Vegas for the first time in 2018 for an aunts birthday.
Negatives did happen though. My parents finally called it quits on their marriage following my dad moving out in 2011. I dont care how old you are (i was 28), you ARE affected by stuff like that. Alot of drama followed and things are still really different now. My dad was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during the decade and despite having been married to someone whose had diabetes for 30 years, doesnt seem to want to take advantage of her knowledge of the disease also was hospitalised with heart proplems but thanks to a triple bypass surgery we managed to avert disaster.
2019
So this past year was a bit off and on for me and ended kinda meh. Furrywise i went to my usual Florida based events like Megaplex and Furloween, not really going anywhere else and stuff. Outside of the fandom though things took a downturn family wise. My mother ended up losing her job in March a year before retirement (On her birthday of all days), losing all the benefits she was hoping for. It resulted in me being the only breadwinner in the household, tho overtime she has been finding ways to get money (without working). Regardless it has had me stress out alot worrying about her economic status and happiness. This has put a bit more pressure on me especially after my father decided that i should take over providing the maintence on the house and the appliances within, a few of which started to show their age and start failing; squeeling dryer, running toilet, stuck patio door, replacing a sink faucet, etc. Im not a professional handyman so alot of thes things i had to do i went into blind, but did manage to do the fixin. There were also heighted bits of drama between my father and mother, due to their different opinions on things like her feelings and my future. The year almost ended on really bad note with my mother turning i the lease on her car and not being able to afford to buy it out. Thankfully a family friend managed to help her get it back so the year ended on a better note.
2020 so far.
Things have slowly but slightly surely started to improve. I managed to fix one or two more things in the house. Ive also lost quite a bit of weight, due to watching my portions and possible stress. Ive also started seeing a therapist about my longtime battles with anxiety and stress. However my costant stressing over certain things have taken a toll on not just me but my mother as well and during a serious talk with her about the effects of my stressing on her, i experienced what we feel was a stress/anxiety induced faint. Alot of sources for me have been things like my lack of confidence in my abilities especially pertaining to my aforementioned fixing spree, financial issues, both mine and my mothers, her health, my parents relationship. A few of these things i know arent my problems to think about and hopefully my therapist can help me with that. Finally i have been thinking on and off about getting a second job to make more money to not just provide for the home but also more cash with which to do more fun things like cons and stuff. Hopefully things will slowly but surely continue to improve..
2010-2018
Conventions and Furry Stuff
So these years saw me going to quite a few conventions, as well as making a change. Megaplex became my non-missable con replacing FWA. I never missed a Megaplex the whole decade and got to watch it grow and evolve each year. I had the oppurtunity to go a few other different furry events, some of which are sadly no longer happening like Rocket City Fur Meet, and the Florida based Elliots Live Events. I was also a frequent and reliable attendee for the Furloween dance party and picnic as well as the Fursonification beach party. For the most part most of my furry event attending happened within the state as it was more convenient and more within the allocated budgets, however i did go back to FWA twice. Possibly the biggest step out of my comfort zone was getting on a plane and going to MFF for the first time, and hopefully not the last. Outside furry i got to go to Megacon in Orlando a couple of times. THrough many of these cons and events i got to meet quite a few people in the voice acting field such as Rob Paulson (who i first met in 2005), Maurice LeMarche, and Jim Cummings.
Furrywise these years also saw the arrival of my first fursuit by
hindpaws in 2012, with the help of my friend 
doubled I had always dreamed of getting my own first ever since i became enamored with them at my first furrycon, I also, over the decade got to meet alot of amazing and cool furries both here and at cons, many of which have become good friends. Ive also met alot of the Youtube fur community as well, including the likes of Corey Coyote and crew from Damn Dog Games, Adler the Eagle and Artemis WishfootNot everything was rosy though as i experienced a few moments of negativity, mostly after cons usually due to my less than stellar social cues and imn some cases my own paw fetish. I have a history of occasionally rubbing people the wrong way despite meaning well and it showed a few times, even as far as a ban from a Florida based event. However alot of people have told me that since the beginning of the decade i have improved year after year. Also a couple of friends moved away that i used to hang with both in and out of cons so that was also a bummer.
Personal Life
2010 to 2018 saw a few changes happen to my life, some good some bad. in 2012 i graduated college finally. Took a decade just to get my bachelors degree but i got it. I got to indulge in my out of furry hobbies like cars and planes and stuff by going to various car and airshows, including an RV show or two. Work wise i got a promotion back to the position i was at when i started so never really moved forward with it. Family wise i got to do a few fun things like a 2012 trip with my mother to Key West which was amazing along with a few trips back to NY for family stuff. I also went to Las Vegas for the first time in 2018 for an aunts birthday.
Negatives did happen though. My parents finally called it quits on their marriage following my dad moving out in 2011. I dont care how old you are (i was 28), you ARE affected by stuff like that. Alot of drama followed and things are still really different now. My dad was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during the decade and despite having been married to someone whose had diabetes for 30 years, doesnt seem to want to take advantage of her knowledge of the disease also was hospitalised with heart proplems but thanks to a triple bypass surgery we managed to avert disaster.
2019
So this past year was a bit off and on for me and ended kinda meh. Furrywise i went to my usual Florida based events like Megaplex and Furloween, not really going anywhere else and stuff. Outside of the fandom though things took a downturn family wise. My mother ended up losing her job in March a year before retirement (On her birthday of all days), losing all the benefits she was hoping for. It resulted in me being the only breadwinner in the household, tho overtime she has been finding ways to get money (without working). Regardless it has had me stress out alot worrying about her economic status and happiness. This has put a bit more pressure on me especially after my father decided that i should take over providing the maintence on the house and the appliances within, a few of which started to show their age and start failing; squeeling dryer, running toilet, stuck patio door, replacing a sink faucet, etc. Im not a professional handyman so alot of thes things i had to do i went into blind, but did manage to do the fixin. There were also heighted bits of drama between my father and mother, due to their different opinions on things like her feelings and my future. The year almost ended on really bad note with my mother turning i the lease on her car and not being able to afford to buy it out. Thankfully a family friend managed to help her get it back so the year ended on a better note.
2020 so far.
Things have slowly but slightly surely started to improve. I managed to fix one or two more things in the house. Ive also lost quite a bit of weight, due to watching my portions and possible stress. Ive also started seeing a therapist about my longtime battles with anxiety and stress. However my costant stressing over certain things have taken a toll on not just me but my mother as well and during a serious talk with her about the effects of my stressing on her, i experienced what we feel was a stress/anxiety induced faint. Alot of sources for me have been things like my lack of confidence in my abilities especially pertaining to my aforementioned fixing spree, financial issues, both mine and my mothers, her health, my parents relationship. A few of these things i know arent my problems to think about and hopefully my therapist can help me with that. Finally i have been thinking on and off about getting a second job to make more money to not just provide for the home but also more cash with which to do more fun things like cons and stuff. Hopefully things will slowly but surely continue to improve..
I've seen this happen to so many people and it's both wrong and heartbreaking. I'm sorry this happened to your mom. I was a caretaker for my mom for twenty-four years, so I'm proud of you for taking care of your mom. I can tell you from personal experience that the world becomes a darker, lonelier place when both of your parents are no longer here. I hope the new decade will be kind to you and your mom.
Pullin for ya Wuff! *big hugs*