[Ebjjrxrd]

Y'know, the thread title at first messed with my head - I could not for the life of me think how a webboard could impact my life? But then I started thinking of the time when we researched coming to the DR, and I was simply too damn scared to post anything on this board - for just on a year I simply read, searched and looked at information. (Newby's are lucky these days, most everybody has turned over a new leaf and been reborn in a more gentle incarnation). So, one day, I scraped up enough courage and asked if anyone could assist with renting a house. When nobody killed me, I asked about a car and Hillbilly taught me the real meaning of diddlin' - Like this --"I done diddled me a good mule". This was my first lesson in the Dominican Republic and a good lesson it was.

So yes, DR1 has had an impact on my life. I get most of the news from here (now I can read more Spanish, so newspapers are finding their way back into my life). I have met some of the best and the worst people that I've known on this board, I have shared business problems, I've ranted, learnt about power outages and how to deal with them, tried to help others with their problems, closed down Rocky's after Scott's DR1 parties (bet none of you knew that), gone car shopping with Johnny Honda, fought political fights, had my fair share of differences with moderators and done my share of newby bashing -- and generally been a part of the DR1 community. One thing about the DR1 board became clear to me and that is that I have really really benefitted from being part of this community. So, I try to give back as much as I received.