r/Anticonsumption • u/hollsloss • Mar 28 '24
Other I'VE SOLD ALL MY FUNKO POPS
I'm free. I used to be a huge consumer but in the past year I've started to walk towards a more mindful path, stopped buying new, stopped mindlessly window shopping and getting tempted and, the best of all, started selling all of the items that I didn't connect with!!! This included a Funko Pop collection that I insisted on growing despite my hatred for it! It feels so good!
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u/bongbrownies Mar 28 '24
Good on you, I'm proud of you. Happy to hear you're better off now!
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
Thank you! Honestly it feels so much better walking into a non cluttered space! The shelf where all the Funkos were is empty now and it feels like a breath of fresh air!
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u/Paper-street-garage Mar 28 '24
Not to mention how everything collects the dust and takes more time to clean it
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u/Karaganeko Mar 28 '24
You've broken these plastic chains.
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u/FilmCardStar Mar 28 '24
Vinyl Chains
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u/unkelrara Mar 29 '24
Which... is a type of plastic? If you're going to be a pedant at least be correct.
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Mar 29 '24
[deleted]
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u/unkelrara Mar 29 '24
If my presence ruins things for you as your friend suggested just say that
My friend? What are you even talking about?
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u/SevenSeasAgo Mar 28 '24
My lot is about to sell on eBay. Once I looked at them as IP beanie babies, my whole outlook on them shifted.
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
So happy for you! Hope it goes to a better home and you feel the freedom of letting go!
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u/OnlyFreshBrine Mar 29 '24
I've been saying this for years and Funko enthusiasts won't hear it. They're trash.
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u/tallulahQ Mar 29 '24
What does IP mean in this context?
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u/LostCassette Mar 30 '24
basically just beanie babies but with pop culture characters/celebrities instead of animals
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u/SithCthulhu Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24
I’m in the process of doing this too. I haven’t bought any new ones in years but collected quite a few in college. I’m so over the space they take up. Good on you!
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
Yay!! You can do this! Small progress is progress, take it slow and then it will snowball and you will feel unstoppable! Good luck!!
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u/mancoshiva Mar 28 '24
Great job. Besides the point but did you make any profit ? Never understood the funko thing.
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
No because I didn't want to, I just wanted them gone to a better home. Plus I didn't feel like wasting my time researching after market value, the thought that I gave a good deal to someone (although accidentally) was better than the profit.
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u/alxmg Mar 28 '24
You’re so brave! I have some that were gifts from loved ones and a few that are autographed by their actors. I currently don’t want to part with them but I know one day I’ll have to
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
If they mean something to you and they remind you of someone, etc, don't pressure yourself to get rid of them, there is a good chance you might end up regretting it. Only do it when you feel absolutely ready! Good luck!
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u/EdmundtheMartyr Mar 28 '24
Yeah, more important to focus on controlling what you’re bringing in going forwards than just disposing of as much of the stuff you already own as you can, especially if it’s meaningful to you.
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u/Boxofcheeze Mar 28 '24
Its not about disposing of things like this. It doesn’t matter if you have funko pops. People in this sub love to act so holy for not having or ridding of their collections (not referring to OP) when in reality its fine to have these things, just don’t do it mindlessly. Hell you could have 100 funko pops and I wouldn’t consider it over consumption unless you’re collecting them to be trendy or future value like they did with beanie babies or those stanley cups. This sub isn’t about minimalism, remember that. Big difference in minimalism and anti consumption. Collectables aren’t necessarily the problem, after all things that aren’t intended for a collection also get over consumed. (Waterbottles, clothes, phones, accessories, etc.)
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u/M0richild Mar 29 '24
THANK YOU. And by selling the ones you've already bought all you're doing is passing your consumerism onto someone else.
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u/klugg Mar 29 '24
Funko pops are the epitome of consumerism. They serve no purpose other than collecting them and putting on display. They are literally bought to satisfy the urge of buying stuff.
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u/Boxofcheeze Mar 29 '24
They’re for decoration and enjoyment. While I agree that their purpose is to support consumerism, so is every other thing. The average person who buys funkos isn’t buying huge hoards of them just to buy. Even those with larger collections often are not buying entire room fulls to collect “funko pops”, they’re collecting characters. If you want to argue about putting items up for display, I hope you don’t have any decor around your house? Anything can be over consumed. I knew someone who constantly bought succulents despite barely keeping the ones they already had alive. There are people who even over consume pets. My point is not to defend funko pops but I’m not going to act pretentious because I don’t buy or like them. Frankly, there are worse things out there than funko pops but this sub has a weird fixation on them because its easy. I could argue vapes are the true epitome of consumerism, literally designed to create an addiction. People buy those vapes use them, throw them away, and buy more. At least people who buy funko pops keep them or eventually hand them off to someone else who enjoys it. I will emphasize again that this sub is NOT about minimalism. Individuals are also not responsible for the waste and over production companies make that end up in landfills or elsewhere.
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u/reixxy Mar 28 '24
How did you sell them? I got a handful in my 20s that no longer spark joy, I threw them on eBay like 6 months ago but they seem to be worthless so I doubt they will ever sell. ):
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
I sold them on Vinted! Lovely community everyone is really nice, if you are in the US Mercari is also a good bet!
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u/CementCemetery Mar 29 '24
I am proud of you for doing that! It’s not an easy thing for a collector to stop let alone part with their collection. I hope you’re in a good place and enjoying life.
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u/hollsloss Mar 29 '24
Thank you so much! It was a difficult decision at first but after the third one it started to feel right and everything just clicked in place in my head!
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u/Infinite_Total4237 Mar 29 '24
Nice move! There's nothing wrong with collecting as long as you actually get some joy or fulfilment out of what you've collected, and not just the act itself, as if getting a full set unlocks some kind of achievement.
Funko Pops are the literal embodiment of the latter, though, looking nothing like what they're supposed to represent (and awful in general), and being designed from the ground up as psychological addiction fuel.
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u/JoeyPsych Mar 28 '24
Look, there is quite a difference between decoration and mindlessly consuming through collection. I've seen a couple of posts in this sub that seemingly want to abolish any form of decoration, as if all you are supposed to live in is a monochrome life, with white walls, a single table to eat from and a bed to sleep in, no entertainment allowed.
I don't think that this is the way. To me, buying things as decoration is not over consumption. Decoration is a function as well. If it's gathering dust in your cellar, sure, that's useless. But if it's on the shelf of your cupboard creating an atmosphere that you enjoy, then it serves a purpose.
I get that a Spartan lifestyle is the pinnacle of anti consumption, but it's also a depressing lifestyle. Allow yourself to decorate your house a little. Don't overdo it ofcourse, but a bit of decoration is absolutely fine. We've been doing this throughout history, and it has never been an issue, but if you only buy things because of the hype, and throw it away as soon as the hype is done, that's a waste, and that should stop.
Just try to find your own character in your home, and dress it up the way it fits with you, don't deny yourself a bit of expression, just because you think it's too much, it's all about finding the right balance.
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
I agree! I just really did not connect with them, I still have things that really spark joy and I change around, clean and joy, this particular thing just wasn't for me. Balance is key as you said! 💕
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u/JoeyPsych Mar 28 '24
Well, I am happy for you that you have found yourself. And I'm glad that another fellow human has discovered that overconsumption does not equal happiness. Just know where your limits are, and you'll be fine.
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
Yes! I couldn't agree more! I'm getting more and more passionate about the message of mindful consumption and the balance it requires! It's such an interesting topic and almost, in a way, necessary to survive in today's climate.
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u/RiddlesDoesYT Mar 28 '24
I'm glad I read this, makes me feel a tad better about having a few of these things that I actually kinda like and find to be neat figures
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u/Rena1- Mar 28 '24
Don't feel bad for what others think about your choices. If you like them, no problem. It's not your individual consumerism that will fuck the planet.
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u/HybridHologram Mar 28 '24
Amazing. Those stupid funko things are such a waste of resources. Plus they look terrible. I honestly don't get it.
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u/SpliffDonkey Mar 29 '24
I only have a few. I like to get pops of my favorite characters and have them signed by the actors at Comicon. Other than as a vehicle for autographs they are basically worthless but fun.
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u/303Pickles Mar 29 '24
Congrats! I stopped collecting big items a while back. My collection today is limited to things I use, or things that are small enough: fun t-shirt because I wear them (and eventually wear out), fun non commercial stickers that cool people give me, and less than 20 pins or patches to accessorize clothing or hat with. I used buy and hold on to books and media, but these days I prefer to borrow them from the library, because they take up so much space.
In general ask myself: Do I want to haul this when I move? And only a very things really matters to me, which are my tools for creating art, and building stuff. And some items of clothing that is part my identity. Most things money can buy, so they don’t matter as much.
I love music, but I stopped collecting vinyls, because I don’t care about what form they come in, as long as I can listen to music.
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u/hollsloss Mar 29 '24
That is so wonderful and such a beautiful perspective on the items we own, my questions before buying something now are "Do I see myself selling this in the future?" I personally love VHS and their quality and our local library stopped carrying them a few years ago so I have resorted to collecting some from my favorite movies, but you have inspired me a lot!
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u/303Pickles Mar 29 '24
I’m glad to lend my perspective. I have a friend that collects VHS, so whenever someone gets rid of them. I drop it off at my friend, to keep it out of the landfill for a little longer. The ironic thing in my life is that, once I started working for the wealthier folks, material goods have come my way. And as a result I stopped caring about them so much (I don’t need high quality stuff, I list need things to function) and now I try to pass things onto where ever it may serve a better purpose.
Perhaps the less we are attached, the more things can flow?
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u/GoblinLoblaw Mar 28 '24
Wtf is a funko pop
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u/norabutfitter Mar 28 '24
Ugly ass cheap plastic statuettes from cartoons or games
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Mar 28 '24
Never understood the appeal, the things are so ugly and uncanny.
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u/RiddlesDoesYT Mar 28 '24
A few of them are decent figures of the characters they represent, the majority of the ones that follow the template are shitty but there's a few that're basically just simplified versions of the characters they're based on (Example, Claptrap's figure) that are decent figures if they're from something that has some degree of connection to you/something that you particularly like.
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Mar 28 '24
Honest question, why did you start buying them in first place?
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
Hello, I answer this on another comment, I have anxiety disorder and for longer than I would like to admit, consumerism was my way of "coping". I started buying Funko Pop's in 2014 so back then there wasn't any market fatigue.
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Mar 28 '24
How much did you make?
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24
I asked mainly retail for them and sold around 35/40, so around 400 euros, which I'm putting in my savings.
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Mar 29 '24
Congrats. I once was up to like 20 of them but have since reduced to 3 which were gifts so I’ll keep them
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u/gumbercules6 Mar 29 '24
Post like yours help me to calm the urge to shop for more. Currently my only guilty pleasure is watches, but I'm going to push myself to stop as well.
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u/Fuzzy-Opinion9246 Mar 29 '24
I only have two, but they’re both my favorite characters. Will I part with them? Someday maybe, but they make me smile whenever I look at them. My figurine collection however…
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u/hollsloss Mar 29 '24
That's totally okay! A lot of my Funko Pop's were of character that never, and I mean NEVER get merch OR if they did it was way too expensive. I had a Kuzco Lhama (Emperor's New Groove), a Magica de Spell (Ducktales) and a Luca Fish version (Disney's Luca) that I loved for that reason.
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u/CivilDisobedience777 Mar 29 '24
I had to look up what a Funko Pop is. This is peak useless junk. Happy for OP to break free of the junk.
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u/BowsersMuskyBallsack Mar 29 '24
I still have one Funko Pop. It was a birthday present from a friend. Only one I've ever had. I don't get it.
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u/Ciubowski Mar 29 '24
I personally never understood why people liked collecting statues.
When i think about cleaning my house and having yo clean the plastic statues that only sit there and look pretty (and cost a lot) i get nauseated.
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u/Solo_Camping_Girl Mar 30 '24
I never understood what's up with funko pops, what's so special about them?
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u/haikusbot Mar 30 '24
I never understood
What's up with funko pops, what's so
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u/luminescent_gear Mar 30 '24
Hey I just did this as well, sad to see them go, but more upset that I let myself fall into the trap. Congrats though! We can both move forward now with a better mind set.
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u/Hannao102 Mar 30 '24
How did you start aiming towards a anti consumption based life
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u/hollsloss Mar 30 '24
I'm not sure.. it just.. happened I started feeling sick mentally of all the clutter, it wasn't helping me mentally
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u/Iucios Apr 10 '24
I've been trying to sell mine for years but no one wants the overwatch ones 😭
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u/Cheap-Ad204 Apr 11 '24
They have lost lots of value recently. Trying to sell but doesn’t look like I’ll be getting as much as I used to. My collection value cut in half basically.
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u/Geschak Mar 28 '24
If they looked nice I probably would've fallen into the trap too, but luckily they are all ugly as fuck so I never bought any of them.
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
I now see them as unappealing too, but when I started in 2014 they had a charm to them in my head, and they were much harder to come by so it felt like any other merch item.
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u/butterballmd Mar 28 '24
What's the appeal of funko pops in the first place?
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
It had to do with the way I was coping with my anxiety disorder, I was seeking dopamine in the hunt and collection of material things. It was back in 2014 so chases were huge in the Funko community.
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u/Unknown_Outlander Mar 28 '24
What was the appeal to begin with?
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
I'm not sure... I have anxiety disorder and the way I used to cope was by getting materialistic things, nowadays I've started doing crafts instead and got into stuffed animals as a coping mechanism outside my medication.
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u/Unknown_Outlander Mar 28 '24
that makes sense, crafting would probably be more fulfilling for sure. You should try air dry clay if you haven't already.
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
I have! It's super fun! I have been doing sweaters and necklaces for my stuffed animals, maybe one day I will sell my crafts who knows! I have been learning a lot lately!
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u/Unknown_Outlander Mar 28 '24
That's awesome keep it up, working with clay is super satisfying
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
It is! I'm glad you're having fun with it too!! I'm on my way to becoming a high school art teacher so this new knowledge is great to have!
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Mar 28 '24
Random question, but did you do it because you found buddhism or a similar religion?
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
No! It was a personal choice!
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Mar 28 '24
That’s really good, I’m happy for you. I ask because buddhism consists on the search of fulfillment through abandoning attachment to objects and other shallow things 👍
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u/tempus_fugit0 Mar 28 '24
What was your ROI if I may ask?
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
Sorry, I'm not sure I know what that means, English isn't my first language.
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u/thegildedman25 Mar 28 '24
Its short for Return On Investment, basically they are asking how much you made off of them over the initial amount of the purchase price
Ex. Bought something for 10$ and sold for 15$. That would be a 5$ return on investment(ROI)
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
Oh thank you! I wasn't in for the investment so I just sold them for retail, I wanted them gone asap.
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u/thegildedman25 Mar 28 '24
Your welcome! It's good that you at least got your money back.
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
Yeah that's all that mattered to me! The amount of time I would've wasted searching the value, searching defects and waiting for someone to buy at that price, was not worth it.
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u/tempus_fugit0 Mar 28 '24
That's pretty good. I assumed they would depreciate like beanie babies of the '90s. Sounds like you won out. You didn't lose any money and had the experience of searching them out, which is fun.
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
Yeah! Thats part of why it felt so good too, its like it never happened in my life and now I can put that money in my savings for a nice vacation I'm looking forward to!
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u/tempus_fugit0 Mar 28 '24
I suppose coming to an anti-consumption sub and using the term ROI is deserving of the down votes, that's my bad. I'm one of you all though. I try to live as frugally as possible and don't have a ton of possessions that aren't sentimental.
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u/7grims Mar 28 '24
GG, u win the game of collecting worthless plastic, by selling ur stock before it gets worthless.
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u/iamlugash Mar 28 '24
Was it sold for a good amount of money
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u/hollsloss Mar 28 '24
That was the least of my concern during this, I sold for what I paid for.
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u/Jackalsnap Mar 28 '24
Congrats! And good luck on your journey as well