I’m often very surprised to see how many people continue to read my blog. The original intention of this blog was to record our sailing travels for ourselves, our family and friends. I have since learned that many others have been following our blog and this is great.
However, the challenges of 2012 have resulted in the blog transforming into an account of the premature end of our sailing/travelling dream and the new journey we’re battling my cancer and, I fully intend, our new life beyond.
There will come a time, perhaps the time she is sold, when our connection with Dignity and life aboard her will come to a complete end. (Please don’t be sad for us – it has been a privilege to have been able to do what we’ve done – we have no regrets at all).
I intend to carry on blogging as this has become more for me than just my sailing blog. I have a couple of options for how I carry on and I’m interested in my readers’ opinions on this. I could simply carry on as I have and use this blog to continue documenting our journey beyond this sailing adventure. Or I could wrap this blog up and move onto a new blog. What do you think? Use the voting buttons below or comment if you have any other ideas.
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Steve – what about keeping the blog but adapting it a bit – eg changing the name to something like Dignity and Beyond –
Just a thought
Steve-
The first sailing blog that I read years ago was from the Bumfuzzles http://www.bumfuzzle.com/ and they have an interesting layout for each of their adventures. I’m often disappointed that some bloggers immediately stop blogging after they have finished with their own circumnavigation/cruising and I often wonder how their transition to living back on land has gone and what their views are with hindsight.
This is all part of your sailing adventure and something that could happen to anyone. My best wishes for a full recovery to yourself and your family. Everything you write is interesting reading and all plays a part in my future plans – things to be aware of, possibilities to plan for and reaction to those things you could never plan or hope for. Keep typing.
I started to read your blog because of your travels and your address was on another one that I was reading. Now I follow it because I have come to care about you and what is happening in your lives. I like the first comment’s suggestion about the future of your blog. From a former sailboat owner and an occasional live-aboard who couldn’t give up her “land legs”.
It stopped being a sailing blog the moment you named it “aboard dignity” rather than, “aboard a big sod-off sailing boat”!! … I want to know how this story continues, not have to buy a sequel!!! …. Keep it going Unc… it’s my vicarious fantasy, and I love it just as it is xx
(That was your Luddite nephew, Simon BTW!)
You raise an interesting question/dilemna that we also pondered when we tied the lines to the dock. We have continued our BR blog including events on land, although now it is more difficult to find time and inspiration to write because our experiences seem too mundane to broadcast. I say keep the Dignity blog going with the thought that each event is but a chapter in your lives. Looking forward to many more chapters!
What began as a sailing adventure Aboard Dignity, continues as an adventure with dignity. I suggest keeping it as is. Whichever direction you decide doesn’t really matter. Documenting your travels through life does. Continue writing. I’ll happily continue reading your story as it evolves.
Steve and Helen,
We’ve been following your blog since you left the EC and really like the fact that we can keep up with you via this link to your site. We don’t care whether you are writing about sailing or about life (it’s all been very interesting to us), but _do_ continue writing. We certainly wish you well and know that we are cheering for you as you go forth in this new direction.
Unlike many of your audience, I’m a long time sailor, but not an ocean-crossing one. I met you and Helen in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2004 when we chartered a sailboat and ventured 11-miles out to sea to Block Island.
You’ve sailed a long way since, and encountered severe health issues with dignity. Keep blogging. Bob Shaal