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 MrMoustaffa wrote:
I feel kind of bad because overall I had a pretty good 2020. Yeah a lot of crappy stuff happened but I started a new job, paid off a ton of debt (thanks to the overtime offered by said new job), got to be outside a lot and travel because my job requires it, and overall feel like I'm finally getting my life on track. I actually have real insurance for the first time in my life at 29 years old, including dental and vision, which is a big deal for an American without a college degree. I even had money to spare to get back into a few hobbies I used to enjoy but couldn't support for a while. I had a really awful stretch there for a good 5 years or so so it's been nice to finally have things turn around, for me at least.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely an outlier as far as that. And I had some crappy moments too. But I feel like I'd have to be pretty ignorant of how fortunate I am if I said I didn't have a pretty good year. I just wish more people I knew could say the same. I've been trying to make sure I don't complain about things because of that. The absolute worst thing to happen to me this year was ammo prices skyrocketing when I finally have the money and time to shoot again on a regular basis So yeah, I have nothing to complain about personally, but it's rough seeing so many others in a hard spot. I used to work in the music industry and still follow the news for it, it's been heartbreaking to see the stuff they've been going through. For some folks thats all they know how to do, I don't know how some are getting by.

I too paid off debt, due to Mum’s inheritance. The money also helped me support some friends, including one who fled to a refuge, and had to leave all her kids’ toys. Was able to send her a wedge to help out.

I’ve been debt free for coming up a year now, and it’s a wonderful feeling, and one I intend to maintain in the long term. Plus, by the time my relationship is at the point of cohabiting, there won’t be a rent or mortgage to be paid. Which will feel weird, and I’ll have to sort out something with Trev as her spending 25 years paying off her mortgage and me just waltzing in and reaping the benefit won’t sit right with me.

The missus had a healthy baby and I got promoted at work, otherwise I painted a lot while stuck indoors.

The good of 2020 for me;
*I have zero debt beyond normal monthly bills.
*I've not contracted Covid.
The only family/friend who has is a cousin - but she lives about a thousand miles away and recovered just fine. In fact she was recovered before any of us here (including her own mother) even knew she'd been sick.
*My cancer Drs. continue to be pleased with my 6 month exam #s.
*Covid has not negatively impacted me financially. Some friends on the other hand....
*Those friends being out of work has led to us playing more games together. Especially board games.
*The Govt gave me $1800 via Covid stimulus. Didn't really "need" it, but as I consider they essentially stole it+more from me tax wise last year I'll certainly take it back.
*I made nearly $1k betting on when Trump would be announced as having caught Covid. Closest person to the day won the pot & if you hit the exact day there was a bonus involved. My pick was 1 day early.
*The US election went as well as could be expected.
*The least useful gift I got for Christmas this year was a mold to make ice balls for drinks.

Gaming wise?
Played plenty of games (within a small select circle)
Painted 320some AoS Goblins & a few orc ally units.
Built 6! GW armies - 3 AoS (Sylvanth/Sons of Behemet/Lumineth) & 3 for 40k (new Necrons/Primaris SM/GSC)

I count this website as something good. Where I work, I always felt that if I went out about at all, I would endanger not just my own health but the job and the business, should I contract covid.

I apparently was not the only person who thougth that -- one of the other employees similarly pretty much spent the whole year at home alone, which is why I count this website (and the many hours I have been able to waste on it without feeling a total slob) as a good thing. Of course, not EVERYONE felt that way, and in the last week of 2020, 7 of 12 of our staff were struck with covid, in part, because at least two people refused to admit they were sick and kept coming to work until it became so obvious they couldn't lie any more.

yes. Still. Very Salty.
However, I used good masks, gave anyone who wanted one a good mask, and brought the proverbial gallon of isopropyl in to sanitize hands between handwashes. (We also shut down for a week, and all the staff had to get tested before we reopened and spend that time in quarantive without symptom.

So the GOOD thing that happened in 2020?

My quarantine/regimen/masks/sanitation worked, and I didn't get covid when everyone around me was exposed. My test was negative, my quarantine ended (actually on the last night of they year, no less) and I count this as a real close call. I still have a job to go back to, a roof over my head, my car didn't explode, and in 2020, I learned, well, to be at peace with myself without bringing in other people to keep me distracted from life.

So not a bad year.

Oh, gaming wise? I am a lot sharper than I used to be at building gaurd armies (and, for the first time, a full marine army). Although I didn't get to play much, there was enough to put theorycraft to test for ninth.

I managed to put my Titanomachina game up on Tabletop Simulator, and it's really scratching the gaming itch that Warhammer used to scratch so I'm very pleased with that.

Well, i did remember than this year i discovered 'focus' drink mix with L theanine that really seems to have made me a little sharper, improved my memory a bit and helps me feel a little clearer.

Due to tax rebates for small business and how busy work was, I increased income by about 30% over previous years.

But it burnt me out.

Got lots and lots models painted and assembled. But got in 1/3 the number games I normally do.

Rediscovered the joys of 6+ standard drinks on a Saturday night, usually when painting and watching movies on my ipad.

Got a new puppy in March, after our 12 year old dog died.

So in almost every good thing there was a downside to go with it.

Overall for me a good year, except for the excess mental stress primarily brought about by OTT/hysterical media reporting stirring up the community.

I'm in a stable, essential, non-lockdownable job, so I have that going for me which is nice.

Full lockdown is honestly my preferred level of social interaction.

On the downside, my country went from normal central European to fascist shithole in 9 months flat.

 lord_blackfang wrote:

Full lockdown is honestly my preferred level of social interaction.

This. And coupled with caring almost full time for a family member, not a lot changed for me during the lockdowns, except enjoying even more beer than usual.

The good:

- Got plenty of models painted.
- Started a long distance relationship, that may become a "proper" one when the borders eventually open.
- Got a medical diagnosis after years of struggling that has made access to healthcare much simpler.

I'm a worker in a critical industry that spends a lot of time heavily sanitizing, in a locale that put its mask orders out early.

I haven't gotten the disease, and given the way I tend to fling myself away from people like they're oncoming cars and sanitize like I'm a Salamander in the vicinity of a Nurgle dance party, I hope not to.

But these are merely ways in which the global rectal torrent that was 2020 has failed to impact me. Actual good:

I have the bare bones of a 3D-printed army together.

And I got engaged.

2020 was dreary and taxing, but personally, I consider myself lucky compared to some.

I got a new job which I applied for in January,
worked from home in April in the old job,
had 2 months off in my old job as parenting time from 27 th of April to 27th of June, took my leftover vacation / overtime for most of July, and started working in my new job in August.
Which pays 20% more than the old one, 32 days of paid vacation per year, 39 hour working week, special pension fund...
And instead of driving one hour a day to my working place, it is now less than 10 minutes, enough to drive home for lunch and back to the office in roundabout 1 hour.


Was able to watch my son make his first steps, hear him say his first words.

Stayed healthy all the time, no one in my family contracted Covid so far except for my mother, who was found to have antigenes in August, but did not notice she was even infected.

The lockdowns and partial lockdowns didn't affect us all too much because with a baby at home, you're time for going out to have a paaaarty is reduced to near 0 anyways

Finally quit cigarettes after my doctor said I'd make a widow out of the missus soon unless I quit.

Still got a roof over my head, still have a job and can afford to live my life. Cant ask for much more really.
So many people got it way worse than me, I feel gratitude towards omnissiah.

I was super lucky during 2020, in all honesty. Life is pretty much back to normal here in New Zealand, and this truth dawned on me on New Year's eve when I took a walk into my city of Wellington to enjoy the sights and sounds. There was a concert on the waterfront, and the place was packed with people watching it, so that's great.

When lockdown first happened, I was staying up in a place called Coromandel with my father, a small town in the Coromandel peninsula, where I had more freedom than if I was in Wellington. I did a frig ton of log splitting, and my dad and I worked on the section.

Also, my mother's cancer has gone into full remission, as well!

I also did a lot of writing and was able to run my Rogue Trader P&P RPG with my friends down in Wellington over Discord. Completed NaNoWriMo. I didn't mind the lockdown at all.

The only thing bad that happened was someone stole my novella-length story The Angaran Chronicles: The Ritual and was selling it as a kindle story on Amazon, which sucked and a couple of other things, but otherwise, luck was on my side, that's for certain.

 tauist wrote:
Finally quit cigarettes after my doctor said I'd make a widow out of the missus soon unless I quit.

Still got a roof over my head, still have a job and can afford to live my life. Cant ask for much more really.
So many people got it way worse than me, I feel gratitude towards omnissiah.

Soon more money aswell if you pull through..

As for me, never wrote more papers for my studies in a shorter time span.

New better paying job
Better work hours to spend time with family
Got a 3D printer
Insurance paid for new roof, siding and some windows due to storm damage
Bought a new Air Conditioner for the house
New stove/oven
New flooring in most of the house
Paid off my car and bought another Vehicle so my soon to be driving kids will have my wife’s old car
Everyone in my family has been safe from Covid because we have isolated
Best Christmas with family ever (46years)
Lots of new plastic crack all around

So a pretty blessed year.

We have lost a few friends to Covid, but have gotten closer to others by being separated.

New job came just in time for me to be furloughed and get paid more to be off for 3 months.