
I joined Gaia in August 2003, and I started off in the mini shops forum doing pixel work to make gold. My goal was the angelic headband.
<-- My 2003 minishops avvy.
I didn't even realise the exchange existed back then, and made all my gold selling ponies, dolls, and ragnarok edits. And the occasional
avatar art. (Those two in the art met on Gaia and are now married IRL
eek )







Then I made the discovery of donation items, and found my favourite item on Gaia, the panda hat! So I started a two week long quest to obtain one. The angelic headband was worth 25k back then, and I was able to exchange that and some Sept 03 letters for one.

A big thanks to Maiji who sold it to me.
heart My obsession with the exchange and donation items began after that.
<--My 03 sig. In the doll I have the pandy and the butterfly mantilla, which was just for fun, but both were actually released as donation items later
eek
My panda hat is named Ronnie Maiji. Yes, he even has a last name
xd He has not left my inventory since I've gotten him, I can even remember his proc number off the top of my head. I have commissioned over 100+ peices of art with Ronnie on. More if you count the dolls and other stuff.
I have met some of my closest friends in the exchange forum, such as Aeris and Anoni, who spoil me with stuff like fairy wings and the ducky hat
heart Aeris is also great at drawing too! There were a lot less people on Gaia in 03, and everyone is sort of new, so it was really fun to run around and talk to everyone.
Art is my other obsession, when ever I have a large amount of gold, I like to go through the auction forum and bid on everything I like ^^;; I tend to stalk my favourite art shops and take up all their slots. I also like holding art contests.
I don't spend as much time on Gaia as I did before, but I'm still plenty addicted
xd and I'll be around the exchange for many more years to come. There are more info on me in my profile if you are still curious.