[Repost & Update] Oppo Changed My Life!

"Mark - Sixpots None The Richer" (marklinde)
11/08/2020 at 08:05 • Filed to: kolbenfresser, sixpots none the richer, das boot

Since Oppositelock’s days seems to be numbered it’s the right time to get a bit emotional. So I’m reposting (a shortened version of) an article that I published here over four years ago.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I feel like sharing some rather important developments in my life with you, my fellow Opponauts. Mostly because what has happened wasn’t possible without this fine community!

A couple of months ago I posted an article that hinted at upcoming changes in my life. Back then I knew I wanted to leave my job and Göttingen where I was living for almost eleven years at this point. I was bored there and the job was a nightmare. So I was saving up money in order to be able to grab the next best opportunity to get out of there. But I wasn’t sure what to do and where to go exactly.

What has happened after uploading said article were the fastest and most exciting weeks in my life so far.

In short: Within 1.5 months I quit working for a security company and moved to Berlin where I’m writing for an online marketing company.
My “portfolio” consisted mostly of Oppo articles and some stuff I wrote about music I published elsewhere in German.

The article that I was referring to the most was the review of my E34 Touring:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

This is amazing. I’m a hired pen now! I’m not exactly writing about the most prestigious topics - certainly not cars or music - but still: A professional writer.

Me?!

You have to understand that I’m a shy person and admittedly lack self-confidence. Yet you guys and girls encouraged me to write and publish more and I’m very thankful for that. Without your kind words and interest I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this view over the German capital from my rooftop.

View from my roof shot with my trusted potato. The famous Fernsehturm (TV tower) dominates the skyline of the city about 4 miles away to left of the church.

I have a blast working within a young creative team and enjoy maybe a bit too much beer while doing this at the moment.

Berlin feels like a total refresh after stagnating in Göttingen way too long. The city is vibrant, beautiful and fucked up at the same time. While people from all over the world flow into the city and make the nightlife world famous, the skyline is dominated by cranes which are still covering up the wounds of history and are busy building a modern capital at the same time. Constructing the infrastructure needed for a modern metropolis and renovating large parts of the city after decades of decay and socialistic mismanagement turned Berlin into Germany’s money pit. “Poor but sexy” was an official slogan and it sums up the feeling of the past 20 years. I’m a bit late to the party, but it still feels like being part of something big.

However, all of this sadly meant leaving my E34 Touring behind to save money and because I had no use for a car anymore. Luckily, I was able to sell it back to the previous owner who loves the car as much as I do and only sold it because of changes in his life back in the day. So we are both very happy!

Again: Thank you, Oppo!

PS: The pic on top was also taken from my roof. You can see the Teufelsberg (4 miles away) on the horizon on the far left of the pic and the Funkturm (under 3mi) slightly to the left of the center.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teufelsbe…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funkturm_…

......

After that post I barely visited Oppo anymore. I was working a lot, enjoyed life and felt not inspired to post something. Not having a car meant little inspiration. But after being promoted a couple of times and saving up for a few years I was able to buy my dream car. And of course I had to share with you guys.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

And just when I wanted to get started again the bad news about this beloved blog came in...

I moved over to DriveTribe now. I hope I will see a lot of you guys over there!

Thanks again for countless of hours of fun and for reading and liking my ramblings!

DISCUSSION (35)

Captain of the Enterprise > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
07/31/2016 at 11:53

Congratulations!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Captain of the Enterprise
07/31/2016 at 12:01

Thank you!

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
07/31/2016 at 12:36

Great to hear you found a new job that you like.

I heard from friends who’ve been to Berlin that it has an amazing nightlife, I think I should go there sometime soon.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/31/2016 at 12:49

The job and especially the spirit of the working place are very different compared to the agonizing grind every night that I had to endure before.

Obviously Berlin is by far the most populous city in Germany which in itself is a part of the reason for a diversified nightlife. But what is more important is the fact that Berlin still is a comparatively cheap city to live in and to visit. Hopefully for a while longer...

Come over!

DipodomysDeserti > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
07/31/2016 at 13:55

That’s awesome! Berlin is a great city.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > DipodomysDeserti
07/31/2016 at 14:03

Yes! I feel honored...

:-)

Scoefield > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
02/12/2017 at 16:28

Hey Mark,

I recently stumbled upon this blog while googling for old class mates (yeah, yeah, I know creepy me ;-)). So you finally made your way to Berlin?!

I really enjoyed reading some of your articles. You’ve always had a talent to tell things in an amusing way. Glad to hear you turned it into a career!

Best regards

Tiko

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 08:19

www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/08/2020 at 08:21

Hello!

Thanks! I will check this out later. I'm out and about.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 08:22

It’s an attempt to provide folks a way to stay connected for when or if Oppo migrates to, or colonizes, another location.

vondon302 > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 08:23

I think I remember this from 4 years ago.

Congrats sounds fun and Berlin is the only world class city I could see me living in. Fun place and great people.

Oppo has been a special place.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 08:31

Mmm, now I want some Currywurst.

Wheelerguy > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 09:07

I love this story! And thank you for getting it out here again for one last. Congratulations, too.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Wheelerguy
11/08/2020 at 10:04

Thank you!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/08/2020 at 10:07

In the spirit of Kinja:

My post was kinja’d. The part where I stated that I moved over to DriveT ribe was lost in the eedit.

I will comment in the keep Oppo later.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > vondon302
11/08/2020 at 10:13

It is a nice place. But there’s a downside of being a nice place to live. It is attracting a lot of people from all over the world s o after decades of being undervalued l ife is getting more and more expensive now . Soon it will be like every other popular city with international appeal I'm afraid. This could potentially lead to an exodus of young and creative people that make Berlin a special place...

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 10:52

So it’s not enough for them to shut us down, but they want to keep us from talking about Drive Tribe?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 11:01

I remember this story. Taylor Martin also got a job writing using Oppo articles in a portfolio. I’ve enjoyed your writing in my time here.

Also, we haven’t had any Bel Aire wagon content in a while.

vondon302 > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 11:42

Bummer

VincentMalamute-Kim > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 11:45

Nice. I’m impressed with you. I’m impressed with Oppo.

I hope you get that E34 back one day from the previous owner. That would be perfect. Those are classically good looking.

I haven’t tried out the others but at this point, I’m hoping DriveTribe is the final home. (sounds a bit like the Battlestar Galactica plotline )

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/08/2020 at 12:22

Two things:

1. I want to assist in creating or maintaining a new platform or environment for Oppo to continue.

Does this include posting on DriveTripe?

2. I want to fold for TEAM OPPOSITELOCK F@h

I have no idea what this means!?

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
11/08/2020 at 12:23

No, I was just struggling with the editing... ;-)

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > VincentMalamute-Kim
11/08/2020 at 12:34

Haha, Battlestar Galactica... :-)
I also hope that DriveTribe will be with us for a while.

I haven’t heard from the guy, but I think the old Beamer is sadly too rusty for me at this point . Although the Black Wreck would reach the classic vehicle status in Germany in a few years i t wouldn’t be worth the effort to restore it to the condition needed .
But I was seriously considering to buy another E34 Touring - 525i or potentially even a 540i . But my love for old American cars was bigger.

Let’s see what the future brings...

See you at Drive Tribe!

VincentMalamute-Kim > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 12:39

I can’t keep it straight. Beamer, Bimmer, Beemers for cars, motorcycles, something else?

Too bad about the E34. Yes, see you at DT.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
11/08/2020 at 12:41

Hello and thank you!

I’m currently preparing two longer articles and one short post about the Bel Air.

Pic for your patience:

Kinja'd!!!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 12:46

I’ll keep an eye out for them. I really enjoy reading about your classic American wagon.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > VincentMalamute-Kim
11/08/2020 at 12:47

Bobby “ Beamer” from Grosse Pointe Blank:

Kinja'd!!!

;-)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 13:35

Great writeup friend! Glad you found a community here...don’t be a stranger on the var ious life rafts until we find a new home!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
11/08/2020 at 14:07

Thank you! I already saw you - or a brazen identity thief on DriveTribe!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 15:49

Love it!

Did you put up a copy of this up on DT?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/08/2020 at 17:40

That’s definitely not a brazen identity thief! :P

I forget if I’ve linked this for you yet (I’ve done it to so many people, I can’t remember to who at this point, haha!)

Life Rafts here:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-current-various-life-rafts-post-1845599665?rev=1604838175782

Discord and DriveTribe are the most popular right now.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
11/08/2020 at 18:03

Thank you!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
11/09/2020 at 06:58

Thank you!

No, this article is to celebrate this community on this specific platform .

Hopefully there will be things to celebrate on DT in the future as well. :-)

See you over at DT.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
11/09/2020 at 09:14

Well keep a copy for yourself at least, for posterity.

See you there (or wherever we decide to end up long term)!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
11/09/2020 at 18:31

A small post:

https://drivetribe.com/p/good-night-groer-Eo7ZLcdETAm6xuXu21tOKg?iid=adSV20_LSEuLxmm68_a9_g