Tanya:

I am amazed at what we've managed to do. We've brought back the Outpost. We've multiplied our activity tenfold over the past year. And every one of you can pat yourself on the back for performing this resurrection. Many have been inspired to take up departmental positions again, working on projects from the ground up. We come and chat now, not just lurk all day. Most of all, we enjoy being together and working together, which is what keeps the Outpost alive.

When I came back last August, I just wanted to make sure we had a 15th Anniversary. I convinced my husband to run the event with me, and I felt it again. I think we all felt it that day, didn't we? There is this gut feeling of happiness which is strangely tied to sitting in a sci-fi chat, typing and reading as fast as we can, and laughing.

We have something special here, something we don't usually get in our daily lives or on other social media. We have a place where we can socialize with friends old and new at any time of day. There is a sense of light-hearted fun, of community, of belonging. I know I'm not alone, and that's why we're all back and tending to the Outpost's garden, weeding, debugging, and planting seeds.

I encourage everyone to keep chatting, and keep gardening. Beautiful things can grow.