Well, this post welcomes me into the 1,000 Post Club!

MVP status and FT status (er, well...) all just a few days apart!

Up until about a year ago, I thought FT was all about the miles and points. While that, of course, remains its primary raison d'être, I've begun to understand over the last year the value of the FT community. I've met several great people both in person (including a couple here at home--one is practically my next-door neighbor) and online, a few of whom I plan on meeting in person soon. Friendships are often borne of common interests, and a couple have started to be forged in the few gatherings I've been able to attend (and help arrange) at home. I look forward to becoming more active in the FT community and participating in some of the larger events. (And everywhere I turn, I meet great people--in the short time and few threads I've spent time on in OMNI, I've met several fun people, and I still have a lot of the board left to explore!)

But, as many continually remind us, it's still about the miles and points. I've discovered tons and tons about effective use of miles, learned about the wonders of status (and how it's easier than I thought to achieve), had a few good debates, and tried to offer what little I know in the hopes that it will help someone who stumbles across it. More than the miles and points, though, I think it's about sharing our passion for travel--sharing my love of rail travel in the Amtrak forum is one of my passions, as is helping people discover the wonders of the state I call home.

Thanks, Randy, for coming up with the vision for a place mileage and travel addicts can hang out and learn from each other. And thanks, FT, for the great community you've become! I hope we stay around for a lot longer.