I haven't posted a blog entry here since the end of our Australia trip. I got busy over the holidays and since the beginning of the year I've been thinking a lot about why I blog and about whether to end this blog. I've always said I do it for me, but lately that doesn't seem like enough. If all I want is a private journal then there is no reason to put it in a public blog.
I think it is pretentious to say I do it for my readers. I don't have many reasders and even fewer commenters. I thnk it is inherantly obvious that if this blog went away it would not be missed.
I'm not sure why I don't have a community of readers but I think at least partly the blog is just not all that interesting. If I had as a goal to build a communicty of readers there are things I could do to enhance the community. But it all comes back to the question why do I blog and is it something I want to continue to do.
I've thought aobut the fact that writing helps me improve my ability to articulate my thoughts and it is a mental stimulation. If I subscribe to the use it or lose it philosophy then blogging is good for my brain health. While both points are true they aren't reason enough to keep going.
I've thought about the idea of making this blog more technically challenging. I could host it someplace other than Typepad and do it to learn more about the coding and building of web pages. I could add some widgets, add an amazon affiliate link and making the blog at least a little bit self supporting.Then I guess I could say I do it a least a little bit for the money.
I started blogging in September of 2004 on my Sun Microsystems hosted blog and then moved my blog here when I left Sun. So it has been six and a half years. I've enjoyed writing this blog but now I think I'm done.
The bottom line is that although writing this blog has its benefits they no longer seem worth the effort. So for now at least I am going to let this blog just fade away into the sunset. I may change my mind at some point in the future and I may continue to use it for personal record keeping but for now Thank you and good bye.
Marion's Blog 
I’m going to miss reading your blog. For now I’ll have to find other ways to keep updated on your trips and adventures. I have to admit I go through phases of posting and not posting on my blog too.
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Sometimes it’s hard to keep up a blog and your real life too. Loved seeing your beautiful pictures of your Australia trip. I’ve had long blank spaces in my blog too.
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I definitely always enjoyed seeing the pics of your adventures! But maybe there’s an easier way to share your photos. Definitely not worth blogging if you’re not enjoying anymore!
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Blogs seem to be disappearing all over the place, lately (including mine). I’m sorry to see yours go too. Hobbies have a way of turning into work. It’s either fun, or a business. If it’s neither, then it’s time to give it a rest. A new direction will come along in time.
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I hope you can let the blog just be here and not have to delete it. I deleted my first one because I felt it wasn’t working for me and someone else snapped up the title. I think that happens maybe more on blogger. I had to choose a derivation of it for the next one when i was ready to start again.
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Well, pooh! I always loved reading your travel stories. Do you think Facebook has replaced some of the things that drove your blog? You are still the coolest person I know WRT technology. Maybe now, you’ll write a book.
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