The reaction was almost immediate after I joined back: excitement, shock, joy. But how did this visit came to be and what did I experience, dipping back into politics after almost 2 months of retirement?

The whole affair came to be rather spontaneously, although general movements to convince me to return have been more or less consistent ever since I left. My recent addition to the Presidential Library seems to have sparked another wave, with several prominent members reaching out once again. Why I actually decided to go this time is largely thanks to Senator Dillinger and Party Leader Schlorp. Senator Dillinger reached out to me in very pleasant fashion and his regard surprised me since we were not familiar during my time in Virtual Congress. Party Leader Schlorp, another member with whom I had little crossover in politics, suggested I’d surprise the server in Voice chat since I had expressed interest in talking. Not sure what was the tipping point, but I felt inspired to accept this time.

Joining back was a mix of emotions, an intense sense of nostalgia, adrenaline and intoxication, but also stress. Virtual Congress has always been a large server with a sprawling layout, so having gotten used to smaller and more compact servers, it was somewhat overwhelming. The hustle and bustle of politics in general draws you in like nothing else, so within minutes I was chatting to old colleagues and new people alike, enjoying the sociability I so cherished in the past. Chatting to President Bo, former President Hull and various Justices and Senators, I was welcomed with open arms.

Exploring the server, I was stricken with the similarities and especially the differences. Granted, two months doesn’t seem like a very long time, but on Virtual Congress, one week is equivalent to a year, making my retirement resemble almost 8 years. The general structure remains, but certain things ebb and flow. More newspapers are in publishing, Twitter has been included and multimedia content is more popular than ever. I particularly enjoyed reading through old articles and saving videos and podcasts for later viewing.

Coincidentally, I arrived in time to witness a speech by Democratic Nominee John Hersey through voice chat. The speech emphasized unity and was given entirely without prior notes, a remarkable feat in my opinion. Stumbling into an event like this one made it very easy to get back into the server culture, despite not being familiar with every single aspect anymore.

I went into my visit unsure how long I would stay, but having the option of being a citizen as well as the warm welcome I received, I am inclined to stay for a while. An old, retired former President and current Reporter participating from the sidelines, what can possibly go wrong?