You're invitin' a group of ticklephiles to laugh? 😉
This is one fine community. As Ms. Bella said, there's several known communities that play as nicely, such as the spanking community, the various factions of the BDSM community, etc. We do as they do, having social functions (gatherings and munches, a la NEST, Hyena's Club, the West Coast Gatherings, Southern Gatherings, MidWest NEST, CHEST, etc.), various net-based interactions (web, chat and mail being primary), couples that are BASED on this interest (of which I'm part of one, as are FrizcoKid and FrizcoGal, YesPayDay and R!ckshaw, etc.), and friendships that enter OUTSIDE of the play. Heck, QBWeaver is still one o' my favorite pals, and we don't play outside of gatherings. I owe her much, as she's been as good a friend as friends can be, in many, many ways.
We're full of contributors. Artists, writers, videographers, organizers, and participants galore. Makes me glad I gave so much of my time for so long!
Mind you, the thanks I get, from those I'm told I help, makes such much more rewarding. The attendance of the events I organize also helps.
This "scene" is a fine place to be, a grand group of participants, and some of the best friends I now know. I've many friends outside of this, but no longer do I have more friends there than here. Here, amongst us, I've scores of friends that seem to want nothing more than my friendship.
We're now large enough to have a wide spectrum of personalities. Ages span decades. Politics run the gamut. There's WAY more women "out" now than were present even before the TMF, a mere year old.
I'm just glad I got to see it happen, and largely from it's beginning. It's gonna be a fine story to tell as an old man.