I live in the Bluest of Blue states, and FR has been a godsend to me.
I have had a chance to meet a lot of the people in person, I went to one of the annual Free Republic Conventions they used to have down in DC, and hung out with the people in the DC Chapter for about a decade (had to travel about eight hours to visit them) but ended up going two or three times a year.
Good folks. Haven’t been disappointed in person yet...:)
There’s no greater pleasure than hanging out with like minds. :) We also live in a Blue State...which rings hollow when all we ever see is Trump/Pence yard signs. Hmmmmm. :O