I've been addicted to the internet since 1996. The moment I found out about chat rooms that was it for me. And since 1996 I've met a lot of people from the internet in real life.

I remember back then how a lot of people were aghast at the thought of meeting up with a complete stranger ~ fast forward 20 years and it's all perfectly acceptable, even normal for some.

I've been really lucky, and for the most part I have met the nicest people. Some I consider family and have even listed them as my siblings on Facey.

I spent my 30th birthday with my Mafia Wars buddies from Facebook in Indiana, USA in 2010. MW closed down a few years ago, but we are all still friends and still support each other.

There's talk about a Vegas Reunion/40th Birthday meet up for next year. MW has been dead about least 3 years now lol.

Bonds

When I think about my Mafia Wars family I think about the fun, trials, tribulations, ice fest we all went through in the year/two years we played together. They were great times despite all the clan wars, dramas and politics (there is always politics). Perhaps it was because of all that, that years on later our friendships endured.

That shared memory, emotion, experience, history ~ that's what's kept us close.

Why am I talking about this?

Well I met the lovely @r00sj3 yesterday. She said something (that I cant quote word for word so "something" will have to do for the sake of accuracy) and I replied "You're Steemit family."

And she totally is.

Just like Mafia Wars, we here on Steemit go through our own challenges, trials, tribulations and dramas unique to the platform. As much as I want to talk shop and discuss the state of affairs of crypto and Steemit in general to Hubby, I know despite his nodding and somewhat curious look, he doesn't fully get it because he's not on the platform.

My Steemit Family

With the sad state of crypto this year I've seen activity fall and masses of users leaving the platform. But in amongst the carnage I also see the stalwart Steemit evangelists shining bright, charging on despite it all.

I look around me and I see people like me who share my unshakeable passion and enthusiasm about the platform, and in them I see my Steemit family.

The only people on this planet I can rattle names and numbers and websites and dapps to and know wtf I'm talking about.

My crypto advice?

Don't look at the crypto price.
Look at the people around you instead.

The value of the platform isn't in the platform. It's in the people who make up and build the community.

Without people in the community, collaborating, participating, contributing ~ this is all just code.

Atleast if, God forbid, Steemit tanks (doubt it, but still, long shot scenario) and closes down like Mafia Wars, you'll still have the friends/family you made on your journey.

And if you get lucky like me, you end up meeting your heart's tribe. People who love and accept you for you.

Those people are always, ALWAYS worth hunting down.

Happy Sunday Steemit