Anniversaries provide a good time to reflect on the past and plan the future (my wife and I recently went to Tassie to celebrate our 12th anniversary!)
Regarding the past, I'm so fortunate to have stumbled across this site in January 2005. Had I not, then I would:
1. Be struggling with a C11-SGT rather than my almost dummy-proof LX200
2. Have no idea how to use a microfocuser
3. Have no clue about collimation
4. Consider astronomy a lonely sport
5. Have never have been to a star party
6. Know several less Kiwis (Hi Robby!)
7. Have an extra 30 minutes every second day
8. Never have met the "Kulnura Gang", some of whom I am proud to call "friends"
Regarding the future, I am very intrigued to wonder:
1. How many IIS members there will be in another year?
2. When the IIS Political Party will be founded, and what the hell its policies would be, other than strict light pollution regulations enforced under martial law
3. When all astronomical societies in Australia and New Zealand will fold in favour of all amateur astronomers joining IIS
4. When Mike's wife is going to put her foot and down, and tell Mike, "This has all gotten too far out of hand!"?
I for one will be raising a glass (or beer bottle) on Saturday night to honour this fantastic site, and all who contribute to make it what it is.
