I may be a little vanilla (at least in public
), but I'm going to do something unconventional: I concede the Southern senate race to PiT, a strong leader who was one of my first friends and mentors in the game. Although our paths eventually diverged, he is an extremely capable Atlasian who will serve this region, as he has always done, with dignity and dedication.
To my supporters, thank you. The truth is, events in my life have recently shown me that my heart just isn't in it anymore. I enjoyed my brief return to the senate, but when election time came, I blew up at Griffin over our different approaches to the game, sent a total of two get-out-the-vote messages, went on a lovely three-day camping trip with my boyfriend, and realized, almost all of a sudden, that I don't care about Fantasyland anymore. I have a life now. It's time to go.
It's been three years since I found this place, and a lot has changed in the game and out. I started as a fat closeted gay Republican with all the answers. Things have turned around incredibly, and I'm leaving a much better person. Atlasia has been a big part of my life; in fact, I often joked that I learned more here than I did in university. In many ways, it's true: This place challenges you to be your best, know your stuff, and be open to different perspectives. I've loved and hated every minute of it. And it's time to turn the page.
The narcissist in me always wanted to be something more. I saw much better players (and much smarter people) like Nix and Polnut and Duke and Marokai achieve so much and earn serious respect. I've spent years looking up to them, trying to emulate them, and knowing I'd never come close. Boy, did I ever want to be president. But I have to say, although many of my goals never came to be, I am so grateful to have had the chance to work with, get to know, and in some cases even befriend, great players like the ones above. So many people, even Griffin, made this game what it was. I never imagined the friends I would make, and I'm so sorry some feel betrayed by the changes I made toward the end of my time here. I hope all of you know how much your friendship has meant over the last three years.
I probably exaggerate it in my head, and I promise I've come down a bit closer to Earth, but I'm still very proud of the things I've done in this game. From those six months that felt like six years as Federalist chairman to holding my own as an at-large senator, I hope I moved the needle in some small way. I was constantly on, constantly scheming, constantly trying to win. It often paid off. But I am so glad to finally put it to bed.
The plan for me now is pretty straightforward, in that I will serve the rest of my term and quietly deregister in a couple of weeks. I feel bad for making a spectacle of myself like this, but not saying anything wouldn't feel right. I am an Atlasian at heart. Maybe I'll reach another point in my life when I need Atlasia... But for now, I don't; and it's bittersweet to admit that it doesn't need me, either.
That being said, I'll miss this place very much. Thank you all for everything. The game's in wonderful hands.
