Been awhile since I've written anything and I feel this is stuff I need to get out there and maybe vent about a little.

First, there's a chance some may have noticed, but I haven't written anything in well over a year now. It's sort of an odd shift in life I guess, but also realizing what I had sought to do just hasn't quite come together as I had hoped. Perhaps some day I'll just finish what I can of my lore or maybe go a different direction and just focus on the more matter of fact and bypass the whole storytelling element I was doing. It's just a hobby, but at the same time, it's not good enough to garner any real attention and that's expected given I've never exactly taken writing that seriously. Still, we'll see if I ever get back to this, but right now, it's just not a priority to me, sadly. Especially because it is something I've been trying to share with others for a long time.

Second, a lot of my attention have shifted to the more real life interactions. Ever since getting on Telegram over a year ago and joining local groups, even ultimately creating a couple myself, I have met a good number of people and it's been a joy to interact with them when I can. My board gaming group has been going strong and has seen some occasional new members drop in and even some old veterans sadly leave. But, it's made me realize how important these board gaming sessions have become and coincides with the shift I mentioned earlier. It's been so much easier to get people together and board game than it is for me to get people together to play something online. Which is a little odd for me to say because I can remember a time when that was flipped around.

I miss the old days when I used to PC game with others quite regularly. But, I think a mixture of finding more concrete interactions in board gaming, plus falling a bit more to the niche in PC gaming, has left me feeling more isolated in that regard. I simply don't play a lot of the multiplayer games people tend to now and as such, I'm usually playing alone 90% of the time. And sure, I can enjoy a good solo game, but it's getting tiring and I don't want to do that almost all the time. It's getting to a point I'm not too sure what to do about it other than maybe try to find people that are more in line with my interests, but that's been difficult. So, because of this, my board gaming has dominated in regards to those interactions I seek.

Lastly...I want to take this moment to apologize to those I have called a friend but never showed that lately or reach out in awhile. Much of that has to do with what I had just mentioned, but I do find it hard to keep up with others online. I just want you to know that it's nothing ill and I always do like it when I do manage to talk with someone I haven't in awhile. It's been rough for me at times.

To sort of supplement this a bit more, I realize I've been without a mate for...I guess probably around 5 years now. I still have my pet Shiro that's been going on for over 6 years, and that's been good. I guess my situation has its good points and bad ones. On the one hand, I have a sense of flexibility and openness in my interactions with others. But, on the flip side, it can get a bit lonely at times. I did talk about this over a year ago and things have gotten better in that regard due to the occasional visit of some more local companions. So, I guess I can't really complain.

But, there it is, I'm still a lone ship adrift in this vast expanse, looking for a star, or two, or whatever among many. Though, I still appreciate seeing the ones I have a chance to have when the time is right.