After about two years of posting on FT, I attended my first Do.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...y-13-15-a.html

I had found FT Chat a few months earlier and had gotten to "know" many of the regulars there (Chat was much more active back then) and many of them were going to be at the Do. It was really nerve-wracking for me to show up to a bar and not know anyone there by sight or (in many cases) name. By the end of that weekend, I had made many friends, many of whom I'm happy to keep in touch with to this day. By my rough count, I've met 13 members who have posted in this thread at various DOs. Others have been kind enough to point out that I met the love of my life at a Do, so I guess I'll always be passionate about this particular topic.

Meeting FTers in person took FT to a whole new level of addiction for me and it made me really feel like I was part of a Community and just not a bunch of random posters. Isn't it amazing that there's this whole group of people out there from all walks of like, corners of the world, and holding just about every point of view there is and yet are all united in their love and appreciation for miles and points?