It’s been almost two months since I posted, a fact that shocked me. The last few weeks of summer, such as it was, kept us fairly busy with gardening and preserving the harvest. Work also played a hand in the long gap in writing. So did physical therapy, followed by my joining a gym* to continue to build strength and relieve pain.
Time seemed to blur and days/weeks began to blend. Before I knew it, another week had gone by. And then another. Who let that happen?
Not writing begets more not-writing. I freeze up and don’t know what to write, and then work starts tapping on my shoulder, and it’s time to pick more berries or dehydrate more greens. I’m tired in the evenings and want only to sit in the rocker next to DF’s armchair and read. The fact that people are sending me notes asking if I’m okay made me feel guilty, which caused me to freeze up some more.
All of which is a roundabout way of saying: I apologize for disappearing without even a placeholder “Still here!” kind of blog post.
Fact is, I’m slowly backing away from work. I’m no longer grabbing every available assignment, or constantly looking for ideas to pitch. Not quite ready to retire yet, but I’m realizing more and more that I want time more than I need money.
It’s unlikely that on my deathbed I’ll be wishing I’d written just one more article about first-time homebuyer programs in North Dakota, or the top five things people should know about homeowners insurance. Instead, I’d be wondering why I let such things consume me this late in my life, vs. spending time with DF, hanging out with Linda B., or taking my niece’s kids to the movies.
The blog is not essential, i.e., I could stop writing and (relatively) few people would care. Yet I still believe I have things to share that can help people stop living paycheck to paycheck. With inflation putting a chokehold on budgets and young people having a hard time making bank vs. saving for retirement, this knowledge is more useful than ever.
Maybe everyone who will ever read me already knows this stuff. But I doubt it. I’ve been at this since May 2010, and I still get blog comments/emails saying, “I never would have thought of that!” or “Thanks for giving me the push I needed.” In fact, I learn from these comments and emails myself, despite having been at the frugal living game for more than five decades.
Thus I’ll keep at it. The issue is whether I can keep at it consistently. For now, all I can say is that I’m sorry I was gone so long. I did miss the community that has developed here.
Heading for New Orleans and Phoenix
FinCon23 takes place in New Orleans from Oct. 18 to 21. While I have programs to attend and volunteer gigs to fulfill, I won’t be busy the entire time. Any readers in or near the Crescent City want to stage a get-together?
The ideal time for me would be Sunday, Oct. 22, because the conference is over but I don’t need to be at the airport until about 4 p.m. Would coffee and beignets be too cliché? If so, does anyone have suggestions for places to meet near the Sheraton New Orleans on Canal Street?
Also looking for tips on any hidden-gem, don’t-miss places to visit while I’m there. Locals are much better than a guidebook.
If you suddenly decide to attend FinCon23, you’ll save $10 with my coupon code. Visit FinConExpo.com to learn about all that you’d be seeing and doing. Choose the pass you want and, when you’re directed to something called TicketSpice, enter the code DONNA10 before paying.
After the conference I’ll swing by Phoenix, to visit my daughter and soak in a last bit of warmth before heading back north. Anyone want to meet up there? The easiest place for me is the Wendy’s restaurant at 2540 W. Thunderbird, because it’s within walking distance of Abby’s house. This could be a weekend or weekday meeting.
If you’re able to make either one, please leave a note in the comments or email me at survivingandthriving (at) live (dot) com.
*It’s a frugal gym: Planet Fitness, which bills me a whopping $10 a month.
Love your content.
Glad to see you’re back. I at first thought I somehow was dropped from your mailing list. But it’s good to know you are well and still ready to share some useful advice.
I enjoy anytime you pick up a pen, thank you
Always loved your blog and am glad you are doing well. Safe Travels and enjoy the conference.
Hey Donna, I’m another fan! I’ll take any content you want to throw at us, particularly enjoy your stories around food, hint hint!
I am madly preserving the harvest while also trying to the last of it picked – the rains have come, so glad I found that tiny remaining bit of energy on our last dry day. I dug the last of my potatoes and collected a few more drying pea and bean pods. the majority of my tomatoes are in the big greenhouse – although now they are mostly in bins throughout my house, along with said potatoes, many many peppers, and a heartwarming display of squashes. I have another 4 or 8 hours of harvesting to do in the big greenhouse, however my #1 son came by two days ago and sweated alongside me and helped pick a lot (and take it away, yay!)
We also got the trim painted on the second side of my old farmhouse on our last sunny day. I bought scaffolding (ouch) to do it as ladders wouldn’t have been very safe nor very practical. wanted the workers to be safe, and they were. Renting scaffolding is expensive, I calculated that I could buy, paint the house and paint the barn/loft next spring, then sell all but a couple of pieces and end up ahead of where I would be if I had to rent and rush.
With all this hoo-ra, there hasn’t been much time to leave the property – although I did plan a short holiday to the beach with my 93 year old mom. I’m very glad I did that!
Missed you; glad you are okay!
What L said. I was afraid something major-league bad had happened to you and/or yours, and I’m delighted to be wrong.
Me, I just keep on frugally trucking–plus (a) still working out this widowhood thing, and (b) keeping an eye on my next-door neighbor, who unfortunately seems to be heading down the dementia road.
Glad you are fine! I was wondering I love what you write whenever. Always but yourself first!
Hi Donna – Missed your posts and glad you are well. I assumed you were taking a much needed hiatus as you ease toward retirement. But, also very true in this economy there is a need for your content!
Missed you, glad you were “sorting out your mind”!
Welcome back, have a great trip!
I’ve been wondering about you, but I’m glad to hear everything’s okay! I’ll continue to read whenever you write a post, frequently or infrequently, doesn’t matter.
Donna I am so glad to hear from you. I think it was last week when I thought that I hadn’t gotten an email from you in forever. Keep on keeping on and throw us tidbits when you can.
Hi, Donna,
I’m joining the “Glad you’re back” chorus. It’s great to know that you’re OK, and I hope that you enjoy all your time while you’re away during your travels. You do need to put your life and personal priorities ahead of the blog. I always look forward to reading your posts, but I never want you to feel burdened or “freeze up.” I’ve learned a lot from you over the years, and I keep learning. We’ll hear from you when we hear from you. In the meantime, I wish you good health, energy, and joy.
Donna, sometimes I am remiss in reading your posts because life gets majorly in the way, so I can only imagine that writing posts that ring true for you would be affected by living your life! I always learn something, or feel something, or tear up (joyfully or sadly) when reading what you want to impart to us. So thank you and you do what you need to do!
Okay, now I’m tearing up. Joyfully. Thank you.
Welcome back! You have been missed. Glad all is well with you and yours.
Enjoy fincon, and your visit with your daughter. Safe travels.
I’m sure you will find lots of writing content at the conference: travel little weirdies, conference and workshop topics and speakers, food, swag, surprises, clothing and fashion trends and fails, cost savings that worked or failed, local stories and side trips………
Looking forward to whatever you write, whenever you write, although I would prefer sooner rather than later. And part of that is because for me, it’s October and this year continues to suck. You are a bright light.
Dear Donna, I was so happy to see you pop up in my inbox. Glad you are enjoying your summer, family and friends and listening to your body. I hope you continue to post for quite a few more years, even if fewer posts. I often re-read your old articles sometimes to look for something I remembered but more for the humor you bring to life’s struggles.
I think most of us that follow you are in the same page, and we all stretch our dollars as far as we can. For myself, I like the little community you have built, and enjoy the interactions among your readers. While we all need money, as you wisely pointed out, time with our loved ones is something that can’t be replaced.
Wishing you safe travels, a great conference and fabulous time with your daughter!
Hi Donna,
I had a feeling you were alright…I think we’ve all stepped back from something or other in our lifetimes for various reasons and I thought maybe you were taking a break. I think I’ve told you before: I’d read your blog every day if you wrote it every day and I’d read it every six months if you wrote it every six months. There is no pressure from this quarter.
Planet Fitness! The $10 deal of the month. DH is there as I write this and has benefitted immensely from his workouts. He’s also lost a little weight which is a nice side benefit.
Best to you always and have happy travels.
Joining other posters to say I’m so glad to hear you are ok! I’m a long-time reader (since shortly after the inaugural “Surviving (and Thriving) on 12K a year” post on MSN Money), but a very infrequent commenter.
Your writing is – and always has been – superb. So I have really missed your posts the past 2 months, as you are one of three blogs that I faithfully follow. However I completely understand the need to take a break. Especially when there are health issues, on top of the thought of trying to come up with something to write causing freeze-up stress.
Couldn’t agree more with your realization that time with family and friends is more important that slaving away to earn an extra dollar that isn’t essential to survival. With your frugal ways and the wonderful DF, I’m sure you will do fine in retirement whenever you decide to take that leap.
Take whatever time to you need, Donna. Post when the inspiration strikes. Your fans will be here.
Thanks, Deborah — and thanks to all you other folks. You’re the best.
Dear Donna, I’m so glad to hear you are okay. I have followed your blog for many years, and looked for your articles in magazines for many years before that. At age 88, I no longer can (or need) to take advantage of many of your frugal ideas, but, although we have never met in person, I somehow consider you a personal friend who I don’t want to lose. Part of the reason I don’t need to worry about finances at this stage is thanks to your experiences and advice. Enjoy your travels, write when you can. I’m one of your fans who will be reading!
What a lovely message, Ellie. Thank you very much.
What about writing a retirement countdown column? It is a scary topic for those used to saving.
Not sure when I actually will retire; probably will keep my LLC open in case someone offers me an unconscionable amount of money to do relatively little work.
But you’re right: It’s scary to think that at some point in the near future I will have a fairly fixed income. This is another reason to keep the LLC up and running.
Do you have any financial goals before you unplug your work laptop? I have reroofed my house. Next I am going to work on my kitchen. I am not living with it as is for the rest of my life but know I won’t do it once I retire.
We haven’t discussed any big financial goals. Maybe we should!
Have a great time at FinCon!
Will do! My flight plan there actually stops at DFW, but only for a very short time. Otherwise I could take a Lyft and meet you and your crew for breakfast.
I’ve checked the blog sporadically but I figured you were in semi retirement from semi to full. I think the way of blogs have gone. Mainly for the ones i’ve kept up with like simple dollar. I stopped reading when it sold, Get Rich Slowly I read it, stopped when it sold, read it again when it was JD again then stopped when he stopped, even Abby’s blog has been more spaced out lately. I think the format is going the wayside. I will always check in from time to time to see what is on here. The subject is still interesting to me but i think i’m consuming more video financial content via Tiktok, Youtube and audio like podcasts. And if the stars ever align for a meet up i would love to!
I know that some people prefer Instagram because of its brevity: Take a cool photo, write a couple of paragraphs, you’re done. Still haven’t convinced myself to do that. I’ll probably stick with the blog, even sporadically, for as long as I can because I think in long form, not short takes.
Unlikely I will get to Hawaii, but perhaps you’ll be visiting the mainland some day…?
I’ve been traveling more and would love to come to Alaska. I went on a cruise this year boarded in Galveston, TX then on to Mexico. Last year i went to Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, and Big Island, Hawaii. I think i also might go to Maui 1st time this year. Like i said i hope the star align someday to make it happen. I’ll keep an eye out
I still check your blog occasionally to see if you’ve posted. I really enjoy your posts so it’s great to see one again. I’ve followed your writing for a long time.
I was one of the folks who asked if you were okay. It did not occur to me that this might put more pressure on you, so I am sorry for that.
Not at all! It’s just a reminder to me that when I’m back in the game, I enjoy hearing what everyone has to say.
Welcome back, Donna! Would love to meet up in N’awlins, but won’t make it this time. Enjoy the conference.
So glad that you & yours are safe, healthy and happy! I missed you!
Hi Donna,
I always love it when you have a new post on the blog. My husband and I just retired (age 70) and retirement information is a great idea! But, put your self first and enjoy your life. We will be here whenever you feel like writing.
Donna, I feel like I “know” you, I’ve subscribed for soooo many years and have always enjoyed your content despite never entering any of your contests.
Wishing you well. I am making a stop in Anchorage next September!
Will you let me know ahead of time? If you have any spare moments during your itinerary, let’s grab a coffee.
I would love that!
Do it! Do it.
Add me to the chorus of people who are glad you’re okay. No pressure to write but I always enjoy reading your posts when you do. All the best to you.