What happens now

I'd always lived in a fairly political household. My dad certainly had strong views, and my mum always liked to keep up with the news. Combined I got a lot of exposure to the sport of politics over the years.
I remember distinctly watching a small tv closely as Paul Keating concede government. The thought, which seemed significant at the time in a way I could never explain was that I had lived my entire conscious life under a Labor government. (I was born 2 months into Bob Hawkes first term)
I remember asking my parents on my 18th for Don Watson's Recollection of a Bleeding Heart an insiders account of the life of a speechwriter in the Prime Ministers office. The talk of intrigue, intimate access, and the challenge to articulate and shape the message to attract the public was intoxicating. I dont remember why I asked for the book, I've never read anything remotely like it before, didnt know a hell of a lot about Keating beyond his news appearances, yet the book changed my life.
I remember the anger and betrayal I felt watching the 2001 Election. My political interest had been steadily growing, but the 9/11 attacks and debates about afghani refugees seeking sanctuary on our vast, peaceful continent drove me to seek other I could express my views to. I quickly decided I would only bore my immediate friends, and so sought out new common political junkies online to argue with, not finding a good place to make camp until reaching the ABC's 2001 election site: Political Animal.

For 7 years I've been writing and talking and thinking about politics online. There were some very bitter blows. The inevitable Iraq war in 03; Lathams defeat and Bush's victory in 04. The hopelessness as Bush tore up the constitution, Howard squandered opportunities and targeted unions and students. The outrage drove my keyboard bound fingers on. I must have poured a hundred thousand words down the internet tubes every single year.

Slowly the victory's began to come, the changes. Dems winning the congress in 06, the departure of Rumsfeld, and of course the triumph of Kevin 07. And now, Barack Obama, a man I first began telling my friends and co-conspirators to watch in late 2006, has been elected President of the United States of America. The countries that matter most are now in the hands of people I support and tend to believe will do the right things. There are some outrages, but nothing so significant as the stain Howard and Bush will be seen to have left on their respective countries ideals.

What do I do now then. Now that the anger has dissipated, the outrage softened, the daily cycle of unacceptable policies and comments turned off.

This is going to take some time to figure out... I may be gone some time.