I am not leaving Bored Ape Yacht Club after all

I was a decently early buyer of BAYC. I paid 4 ETH for it back in Dec 2021 and it was one of the more reasonable prices at the time. It was my first and only NFT purchase at the time and I had no idea what the world of NFTs was all about. I thought I was buying some cool pixel art and was excited. I had no clue that I was signing up for the craziest ride in crypto history.<br><br>In the following months, I was slowly getting drawn into the world. I learned about the community driven aspect of it. I learned about the project's mission to create a sense of ownership and community for BAYC holders. I saw how holders were creating projects such as NFT generosity, helping out other holders. I learned about the events, such as the 101 instances where holders could mint additional ape for free. And I even got familiar with the drama around some of the celebrities and companies trying to get their hands on BAYC. I thought it was a fun world and I was excited to be part of it.<br><br>Then came Turbo, Ape Storm, St. Martin's and more. These events made me question whether I wanted to hold onto it. I saw how some NFT projects were dying or getting abandoned by their creators. I was not sure whether BAYC was sustainable in the long term. And then I decided to sell it in 2022, mostly to cover some personal expenses. It was not a great investment and I thought it would be better to sell it at a small loss before it tanked. <br><br>But here I am, 2 years later. BAYC has gone through so much and it has come out stronger on the other side. It has weathered the storms and even created some of its own. It has become a cultural phenomenon in the world of NFTs. It has been to space. And it has been to St. Martin's. I missed the before invite but it was a cool event to learn about nonetheless. And the apestorm event is still a fun thing to look at from time to time.<br><br>And now, I'm back. I was looking to buy another BAYC few months ago, but I couldn't because I didn't have enough money. I have enough now. I've been holding onto it this whole time. It was my first NFT, my first investment, and I've come to appreciate it for what it is. It's not an investment. It's a collectible. It's art. It's something I can hold onto. And I think I will.<br><br>TLDR: I was going to sell my BAYC in 2022 because I wasn't convinced about NFTs, but I've come back around to the idea of owning one. I've been holding on to it for two years and still think it's a cool collectible.