A Sabbatical Update

Today marks one month away from adding fresh material to Satisfying Retirement. Happily, several hundred folks a day continue to visit, to look at the archives, I assume, or see if I have dipped my toe back in the blogging water. The number of supportive and encouraging emails that I find in my inbox are very gratifying and encouraging, too.

I have begun to look at a move to Wordpress as my blogging home. Frankly, I didn't realize the amount of work involved in establishing an entirely new home for the blog on a new site. Making things look good is more involved than I had anticipated. While I think it best I do eventually move from Blogger, it is likely that this will continue to be my home for awhile.

I have been reading all sorts of books and spending extra time simply being quiet and content, looking for insights and fresh ways to think about retirement. There are always new readers, fresh to retirement or beginning to plan for this phase of life. Addressing the important issues of finances, relationships, time management, travel, spirituality, and creativity are vital to them and will continue to be at the core of Satisfying Retirement.

At the same time, for readers who have been with me for more than a few years it is important that I look for different ways to address some of the challenges we face. There are a few hardy souls who have been part of this blog family for almost as long as I have been here! I want to keep them surprised and pleased with new perspectives on familiar subjects.

I have reached an important conclusion about what I want from this blog. The days of trying to "grow" readership by using social media, podcasts, guest posts, or other avenues open to me are definitely moving to the back burner. Trying to increase advertising revenues isn't worth the effort to me. This isn't a business, it is a labor of love.

So, blogging will be more about satisfying me, pleasing you, and being content with the process. The size of the readership will be whatever it is; I am no longer pushing for the next million views. Advertising on these pages will be limited. Even pushing my various books will take a back seat to just having a good time writing and responding to your comments.

To keep the blog in proper balance with the rest of my life, when I return there will be a new post every 5th day, just a bit less than before. I have no plans for another book at the moment, though that doesn't mean I won't write one someday. I will probably restart the podcasts, but not immediately.

Satisfying Retirement is the name of the blog. I am adjusting things so it is more a description of my life, too.

I have begun to write some new material. When I have enough ready to go, I will be back. If you'd like me to give you a date, let's think about two weeks from today, March 25th, as the official end of the sabbatical.

That sounds doable. 

Please join me to see where we can go together.