Welcome back, Panache!
For me, similar to Dan: Same old, same old!
I'm currently beginning my 3rd year of employment at the group of companies I work for (which makes it my second longest employment so far), plus I created a spare-time business for IT services in case I need more money.
I'm also trying to learn Japanese again, I've begun riding bicycle again (which I really loved when I was a teen), and I'm interested in left-wing politics (democratic socialism). I've never been member of a party, but I'm playing with the idea to join THE LEFT party ("DIE LINKE") ... I'm not sure yet though b/c if I join I have to support ALL of their agenda. :D
I have some relatives in Eastern Germany which I visited recently, and I still fondly remember some good aspects of the GDR (the socialist Eastern part of formerly divided Germany), and I've begun reading a left-wing newspaper, New Germany ("Neues Deutschland"), which used to be GDR's government newspaper.
(I couldn't resist when I found out that it still exists.
)
For an American, THE LEFT must appear uber-communist, but communism is far away from socialism or democratic socialism. Actual communists would do away with our economic system completely, and also the government, but that's a left-wingers wet dream that is almost as unattainable in present day as sheer anarchy (or guided anarchy).
