It is hard to believe that we are now less than 24 hours away (in terms of forum time) from the end of the decade and the rise of the 2020s.
![:opetrie By Flathead770 :opetrie](https://www.gangoffive.net/Smileys/gof/PetrieSurprised.png)
Though in many ways it is an arbitrary threshold, the passage of a decade allows us to take stock of the passage of time and how we, and the forum, has changed over the previous ten years. Though I only joined in 2013 and cannot share first-hand knowledge of forum events before then, I can share some of my thoughts and observations since then.
One memory that I have from the previous seven years is when I first joined the forum. I was quite hesitant to join a forum for some time due to the general lack of civility in many forums and my own lack of experience in joining established Internet communities. However once I discovered the Gang of Five I began to sense that it was different. I lurked for about six months and was quite impressed by the community and the maturity on display by many of the members. I finally decided to take the plunge and to join the forum in August 2013. Much to my relief the other members and the admins welcomed me warmly and encouraged me as I slowly got the hang of being an active member of an Internet community. In particular, jansenov, Malte, Iris, Ducky123, and bushwacked made me feel right at home.
Since I have joined the forum I have witnessed both the loss of long-standing members and the joining of new faces into the community. As such the forum has always been a dynamic place from my perspective, with new members bringing new vitality into the community with their arrival. This has been most noticeable to me in how many members who have joined since 2010 have really jump started activity in the various prompt challenges, the character showcase, and the numerous games on the forum, even as some older projects have been discontinued. It is this energy and motivation from the new members that continuously rejuvenates my own love of the series and this community, and I am sure it is a similar story for others on the forum as well.
Likewise, during this time, the Internet has shifted from one era to another, with many old-style forums falling by the wayside. Thankfully this forum has persevered through this transitional period, though it was not an easy journey. From one migration (from Invisionfreee to Zetaboards) and then another (to self-hosting) we have our membership to thank for keeping the forum alive and thriving. I am immensely thankful for the tremendous help that zero-point and James Gryphon have provided during these migrations. I am also deeply appreciative of every one of you who have contributed to providing the funds that keep the forum operational. Though much has changed over the years I am confident that with your continued help this forum will flourish for years to come!
![:) :)](https://www.gangoffive.net/Smileys/gof/smile.gif)
As for myself, the decade has also been one of change. I began the decade as an adjunct professor who was freshly out of graduate school and worried for the future, and I leave the decade as a full-time professor with much better prospects. Additionally, through the welcoming words and assistance of forum members, I have become part of a wonderful forum community. Through this community I have done things that I honestly could not have foreseen in 2010. Namely my creative pursuits, fanfictions, and participation in roleplays would never have happened without the forum community encouraging me in these endeavors. Due to these developments and the building of new friendships, the forum and the people in it will be firmly ingrained in my mind whenever I think of this past decade.
What about all of you? What thoughts do you have concerning the decade that is about to pass and the one that is yet to come? Feel free to share those in this topic.
![:yes :yes](https://www.gangoffive.net/Smileys/gof/in-yes.gif)