The stereotype for someone working in IT, is someone earning a lot of $$$ for pushing a few buttons each day, living in St Heliers, driving their dream car, and has all the mod cons and toys.

 (And sometimes even a wife!)

Well, the honest truth is that the above is not true for all of us.

While I’ve stayed in IT my whole life (started in around 98), the money hasn’t really changed at all, or if it did, something else came along and took away the potential extra cash - but on sensible things.

Getting married, buying a house, having kids, getting a family wagon and so on.

So, personally I've had little money to be able to buy toys etc., including new computers/parts, and relied on friends’ old parts when they upgraded, or when able to, bought low end new parts.

Any personal extra training has never been formalized as the exam costs are usually horrendous. (Employers do fill the gap here and there though)

And then along came Geekzone into my life.

I've made friends, been given and given free/cheap parts and advice, and generally had fun all round with IT related items.

Without Geekzone, I think I may have lost my interest in IT some time ago, but thanks to the generosity of you fellow Geekzoners, I've kept my passion for IT and still enjoy it today as much as I did back when I started out.

This community is amazing at all levels, be it just needing a bit of advice, or after some cheap parts, or in some cases a platform to release some slightly personal anguish. Everyone’s there to help you along in the geek life and long may it continue.

So massive thanks to Mauricio for putting this all together, the various moderators for their efforts in keeping the community a clean and friendly place and the general users for everything you’ve given to others.

Long may it continue! :)