[Ansteorra] Retention, was Ideas and others

[Elsa]

We've discussed ways that things are bad, we've talked about hard decisions
we've had to make to stay here, and we've highlighted ways that we can make
things better. I haven't seen much of a discussion on why all of us are
still here.
I know I'm not alone in the world for having lots of life committments,
both inside and outside our Dream. One of the ways I juggle my priorities
is to periodically sit back on my heels and reevaluate _why_ I'm doing what
I'm doing, here and elsewhere. At one particularly overcommitted time, I
told myself optimistically that I could leave this "hobby" any time I
wanted to - but of course the next thought was "except."
-Except that I had a commission due to a friend, and the materials and
patterns were in hand, so I didn't want to let them down (and have to stare
guiltily at the materials for years after).
-Except that I had an obligation for an event two weeks from then, both to
be there to meet someone for a purpose and to share a ride (read: fuel
money, road-safe entertainment) with someone who wouldn't be able to go
without my however-small contribution and their reciprocal obligation to
me.
-Except that I'd have to explain my decision to all of my friends - because
even the ones who aren't here know where my time goes.
-Except that I owe so much to people in this time-sink (affectionately
meant) - both internally (I've learned many of my favorite art forms here)
and externally (my best job leads have come from friends I've found here),
and to drop out feels disrespectful to their time and investment.
I'd like to see more of a discussion about why we're all still doing this
despite knowing all the warts. By remembering our reasons, however
habitual, we can focus on making those kinds of things more accessible to
the people who haven't yet started thinking about what we do in terms of an
addiction. :-)
 ~HL Elsa of Mooneschadowe

-- 
So if knowing is half the battle, what's the other half? Halberds.