Introduce Yourself and Meet Others, Part 2

[escapevelocity]

This is an extension of this post http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=338.0, which was so long it crashed my browser a few times.  So I thought I'd start a new thread.

Hi Everyone,

My name is John and I'm currently living in Seattle, Washington.  I tested positive in 1997, just a few days before the fourth of July.  I'm pretty sure I was infected within a year of the positive test, since that was a pretty crazy time in my life - filled to overflowing with sex and drugs and rock-n-roll.

I live with a partner of 9 years (he's negative), and our dog who is also serves as my part-time antidepressant.  I'm 35.  My partner and I haven't had sex in years, and I think he's afraid of the virus even though he says otherwise.  I'm not entirely sure we'll be together for another 9 years, but who knows.  I'll be moving to Iowa sometime before 2008.  I'm an introvert, although most people don't believe me when I tell them that. 

I've had some interesting successes in the professional world, though I'm ready for a change.  I'm considering going back to college to finally finish up my degree, then finding work in the IT industry.  But hanging out in a cafe in the middle of nowhere (like Iowa) and pulling espresso for a while also has a certain allure.

I've been on meds for 7 years - the same combination this whole time (Epzicom and Sustiva).  My CD4 hovers anywhere from 600 - 800, and my viral load is < 50 copies, and has been for the duration of the time I've been on meds.  I've been very lucky.

The meds I'm on make me extremely tired and depressed.  It sucks, and I'm talking to my doc in a week about finally trying something else.  Music helps get me through.  I like indie, PUNK, pop, hip-hop, trance, folk, funk, and can even tolerate some twang.  I'm about to launch a prolonged investigation into House and Jungle after a recent article in POZ about the healing effects of House music...  I also enjoy reading and writing, Vipassana (Mindfulness) Buddhism, Veganism, Biking, Graphic Novels and Coding PHP and MySQL. 

Politically I'm pretty far left of center, and have an interest in feminism, civil rights, classism, homophobia, and (of course) health care.  While I have strong political leanings, I don't need my friends to agree with everything I believe, or to be political themselves.  I'm quite comfortable being with people who are strikingly different from me, even ideologically. 

I also dig tattoos...  finishing up a full sleeve on my left arm, and assorted others elsewhere.  I have a pretty mellow demeanor even when I'm not depressed, and enjoy my humor like I enjoy my beer - extremely bitter.  My middle name is "Schadenfreude."

My family doesn't know that I'm HIV Positive, as far as I know.  I'm not sure why I haven't told them.  I don't think it would floor anybody.  I just don't think it's any of their damn business and their support would not be a particular comfort to me.

Recent books I've read include "My Pet Virus" by Shawn Decker, "I Am Not Myself These Days" by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, and "The Mind of the Raven" by Bernd Heinrich.  I'm trying to tackle "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn, but I'm having a hard time getting into it.

I'm really excited to find this site, and I'm hoping to make some new friends of any gender, status, orientation, etc.  I'd love to hear from you and welcome any messages or posts.  And if you're in Seattle or Iowa, definitely give me a shout!  I'd love to meet you.

[Longislander]

Hey John, great intro. You have a great handle on yourself, and now we do too! Seems to me you're gonna fit right in here! Jump in and when you get the first "who the hell are you", point 'em to this thread.

Geez, I think there's orgies in Iowa going on ( or was that Idaho?)

Anyway-WELCOME!

Paul

[rick21007]

Howdy John and Welcome to AM!   Intriguing bio.  Like Paul said you are gonna fit right in with this motley crew.  So what's in Iowa for you?? (I hitched across the state a couple of times years ago, but I get so disoriented without mountains around someplace I just figured it was no place for me.)

I'm a new poz--got infected about 14 months ago (at a time when I wasn't being particularly mindful)  and was diagnosed last December (when I was.)  Also newly married to a wild Romanian. (who is neg.)   Hows that for synchronicity! Which is to say that hiv has not put the brakes on my life moving forward.

I also live in the Pacific Northwest--Central Oregon about 2 and half hours from Portland.  Don't expect to be here long as my husband will be doing a residency in surgery later on this year and we don't know yet where that is going to be.  So I could end up being somebody's neighbor on this forum.

Anyway, just wanted to tell you I have found these forums to be of tremendous value for the information and personal support I have found here.  Sure you will too.

Best, Rick

[Queen Tokelove]

John~~

Welcome to the Forum crew. I liked your intro and you seem like the kind of person I would chill with. I love tatts, I have 4 but nothing major. I would like to get some more one day in the future. As far as not disclosing to your family, I can relate to you choice. When you are ready you will or if you don't you won't. I hope to hear more from you in the future..

[dtwpuck]

Hi John... I surprised I never met you.  I lived in Seattle most of my life (I grew up on Vashon Island and Port Orchard) until I moved to Michigan two years ago for this job.  I have two full color sleeves.  There are a couple pics of them on my myspace profile

http://www.myspace.com/puck1967

If you want to see them in more detail I would be happy to show them to you.

I tested poz around the same time as you (1997 - Jan) & was probably poz for a while before that.