I also don't remember exactly how I found it, all I know is that it was at a time where I was trying to complete everything I wanted to do on NL (dreamies, finish my house, etc.) and I was doing a lot of trading on gamefaqs and reddit, so I think I just eventually stumbled upon here while doing that
I think someone I randomly met on the online island in New Leaf told me about it and I joined or smth like that lol. I just remember someone mentioning it in NL so I looked it up.
I think I found it on google when looking for hybrids for NL when I started playing in 2018, but didn't log on again until Feb 2020 in anticipation for NH.
At this point I have no idea what I was specifically searching for, but I'm pretty sure I happened across the forums as a result of a Google search regarding something to do with Animal Crossing New Leaf. I do know that I didn't immediately join, but the site did stick in my mind and I did eventually decide to officially sign up at a later point because I was interested in acquiring villagers and in-game items.
I don't remember exactly how I found TBT but I started playing ACNL after watching Chuggaaconroy's LP for it, and pretty soon I was on this forum for online playing, region-exclusive furniture, and turnips!
I'm pretty sure I was on a Facebook group or something and saw someone had linked it in a post somewhere. At the time I was really unlucky with a lot of these AC trading groups so I decided to check TBT out. I actually didn't sign up right away because I was deathly afraid of posting in the wrong area because there were so many sections lol. It took me a few days before I made an account and felt brave enough to post but I'm really glad I did!!
I joined after googling something like “when does Animal Crossing New Leaf release”. I saw that there was this forum and everyone at the time was making their predictions about the game and posting the latest information, so I joined! It was honestly dead back then, maybe 20-40 active members at the time. I’m fortunate to have seen it grow so much and to have been apart of the growth!
I was desperately looking for dog villagers some time last year for my acnl island- I had the game when I was younger and a friend gifted me a 3ds for my birthday to replace the one from my childhood that I lost- and I think I was googling something along the lines of "where can buy villagers" without using amiibo and now I'm here