Howdy. My name is Brad. I'm 21 and I live near Los Angeles. I've been interested in the FSP for a few years now, since I started listening to Free Talk Live back in 2007. Originally I was considering heading to Manchester or possibly Nashua. I was more of a minarchist at the time. However, after watching what has been going on in Keene for the last year or so, I realized Keene is the place to be if you actually want to see things getting done! I also recently made the jump to Voluntaryism, which didn't hurt, either. ;D
My reasons for wanting to leave California aren't just about politics. I've had problems with social anxiety since I was in middle school, and I'm not a very independent person for my age as a result. I want to move to New Hampshire to prove to myself that I can make it in the real world without having someone holding my hand, so to speak.
Anyway, I really look forward to meeting you guys someday. I've talked to Ian and Dale on FTL before, though, so I guess we've already met. 
Welcome - come on up!
Welcome to the forums! And hopefully Keene soon. I'm sure the Keeniacs would love to assist you in learning some independence. A great virtue to learn I might add.
Doesn't social anxiety make you a more independent person? Since you're anxious around others?
[quote author=Coconut link=topic=1299.msg13653#msg13653 date=1248495198]
Doesn't social anxiety make you a more independent person? Since you're anxious around others?
[/quote]
Somewhat. But it's a very meek, unassertive, confined sort of independence. It's tough to explain.
Who do you consider yourself dependent on? Parents? Significant other?
[quote author=FTL_Ian link=topic=1299.msg13665#msg13665 date=1248499249]
Who do you consider yourself dependent on? Parents? Significant other?
[/quote]
My parents, mostly. Although I've made a lot of progress this year.
Welcome to the socially anxious, meek, unassertive, confined independence club. I have struggled with that myself. I used to think people were so demanding and judgmental and hostile that I just wanted to get away from all of them. How does it work with you?
[quote author=TackleTheWorld link=topic=1299.msg13716#msg13716 date=1248542028]
Welcome to the socially anxious, meek, unassertive, confined independence club.
[/quote]
I'm a member, too. Well, I used to be. Then I moved here. I've changed a bit since living amongst free staters - amongst my current friends. Maybe you will, too. 
And welcome!
Cool. I look forward to welcoming you to NH!
i had horrid social anxiety in my younger years. i would shake, sweat, and wanna throw up when talking to someone i didn't know. it sucked.
but i found that when i moved to los angeles, CA (from a little farm town called boring, OR) by myself, and was forced to interact with strangers on a daily basis, all my social fears subsided, and i became a social butterfly.
almost to the point where people need to tell me to shut up. almost
Shut up, Smeg!
[quote author=smeg link=topic=1299.msg13827#msg13827 date=1248633856]
i had horrid social anxiety in my younger years. i would shake, sweat, and wanna throw up when talking to someone i didn't know. it sucked.
but i found that when i moved to los angeles, CA (from a little farm town called boring, OR) by myself, and was forced to interact with strangers on a daily basis, all my social fears subsided, and i became a social butterfly.
almost to the point where people need to tell me to shut up. almost
[/quote]
Only because you're making fun of me all the time…
[quote author=smeg link=topic=1299.msg13827#msg13827 date=1248633856]
i had horrid social anxiety in my younger years. i would shake, sweat, and wanna throw up when talking to someone i didn't know. it sucked.
but i found that when i moved to los angeles, CA (from a little farm town called boring, OR) by myself, and was forced to interact with strangers on a daily basis, all my social fears subsided, and i became a social butterfly.
almost to the point where people need to tell me to shut up. almost
[/quote]
Yea, you're lucky that you have so many cool stories. You might be from Boring but your life certainly isn't boring.
Thanks for all the friendly responses, everyone. Now I just have to wait until I finish school and save some more $. 8)
And just out of curiosity, did any of you move from CA?
Mike Barskey did.
JAC, too.
[quote author=AnalogKid link=topic=1299.msg13986#msg13986 date=1248745564]
And just out of curiosity, did any of you move from CA?
[/quote]
Yep.
I moved from Palm Springs, actually, so I was "near" LA, too (and I've lived closer to LA in the past).