Maybe it is more than an instance. Maybe it is an idea, a world-historical vanguard, light itself. 
actual attempt to answer (cringe)
We’ve been around for three years on a lemmy fork before federation. The lack of federation for years as well as the place we splintered off from (/r/chapotraphouse) already having a unique microculture within Reddit has given this instance, in my opinion, a distinct culture compared to general-purpose and even other hobbyist instances.
Regarding specifics, Hexbear is a vehemently queer-friendly/intersectional anti-sectarian socialist instance. Check us out 
It was great when you joined and immediately brought an extremely powerful and specific energy to the site
I think my first post was me complaining about being covered in centipedes followed by a post of a skeleton complaining that the centipedes won
Not sure what to call that energy lol
Dirtposting.
I don’t remember that post but I went through your old posts and this was the first one. Although we didn’t get the signature Dirt_Owl posting until this post which is just the right amount of immature humor, weirdness, and mildly horny that we now know as the signature Dirt_Owl post.
Ohhhh so my first post was more serious then I thought.
Oh geez back when the covid toll was less then a million haha oooo nooo