Meniscus

[nanila]

 It's now been over a month since I last posted on Dreamwidth,  longer on LiveJournal since cross posting stopped being automatic. 

I debated over our recent holiday whether to simply continue not posting or to make some kind of formal statement about how I plan to use this journal in future. Personally I prefer it when people don't just disappear. I know that 99% of the time they've just got bored or busy or distracted by a different platform and don't find the journal rewarding enough to continue, and nothing terrible has happened to them. But it's nice to have the reassurance that this is the case, rather than that they've been hit by a bus or something. 

So I guess this is me obliquely sidling up to the realisation that despite 21 years of journalling (as of this July), I have neither the time nor the inclination to keep up my commitment to writing and interacting here as intensively as I once did. I can see the signs of this in my recent posting patterns: more short entries, far fewer public posts, failure to post photos because it's just too much effort to muster after a 15 hour day, failure to reply to comments or to other people's posts. 

There are external factors too. I got promoted at work. I have a huge workload now that I have a senior administrative role in my department, plus teaching and grant management. I'm co-supervising my first PhD student. The children will be going to different schools in a week's time, effectively doubling our life admin complications. Because of this we've had to acquire a second car after 10 years of getting away with having only one. 

I'm sure no one apart from me is surprised, but I hope I'm not the only one who's sad about this. I loved being (what felt to me like) a stalwart part of this community. It's painful to have to let it go. I will post now and again but I won't be reading regularly so if this is important to you and you need to say goodbye because of it, please do. On the other hand, if you're okay with sporadic updates and patchy, enthusiastic interaction then please stay. I'm always happy to pick up with friends and acquaintances after long silences.

I'll keep my Wed-Sat shifts on the daily "Just One Thing" achievement posts for Awesomeers.dreamwidth.org. Do join there if you want a low key way of recording stuff you've done and getting a little cheer for it. That's how I use it.

If you'd like to connect elsewhere, I'm on the following, but don't post much: Instagram (magnetometrist) and Twitter (nanila). I'm most active on and 150+ days into a Duolingo streak so happy to be added there as well: nanila2, the one with a Neko Atsume cat as my userpic.

TL;DR version: Nanila angsts about not journalling regularly, isn't leaving completely, loves you all, stay or go as you like, please add on Duolingo. ❤️

Comments

[cosmolinguist]

I am sad about it, definitely (I still remember you writing every day, inspiring me to do so!), but also very happy to have updates from you however sporadic they are. <3

Life catches up

[soliano]

Sounds like thing are going really well. I imagine as the kiddos get older time will be more precious. Post as you will, I will gobble up what is there.

[cactus_rs]

That was me what just added you on IG, with the kebab-chomping profile picture.

[shirebound]

I'm glad things are going well for you. Check in whenever it feels right to do so. :)

[jb_slasher]

Being a sporadic poster as well (most of the time), I'm happy to read your entries, whenever they appear. :)

[lilysea]

I just sent you a follow request on twitter (same username as here)

I will be sorry to see you post less often,

but considering how massive your paid work commitments are, and then your parenting commitments on top of that, it's 1000% understandable. (Yes, that is meant to be one thousand)

[cmcmck]

We'll simply have to start meeting up for coffee occasionally instead! :o)

[white_hart]

I was just thinking that I hadn't seen you here for a while, and wondering how you were. My posting here has also dropped off recently, which makes me sad but I can't seem to muster the energy to pick up again.

I will add you on Twitter and IG, though I'm not actually using either one that much now (I post on IG fairly regularly, but interact with people very little).

[kotturinn]

Will welcome any posts I see, quite understand reasons for stepping away. Love and best wishes to you all, including the menagerie.

[oursin]

What works for you, works for you. Pleased to see you when I see you. Have followed you on Twitter.

[angelofthenorth]

I'm msmiriamm or angelygogledd but I can't seem to bring up your a/c when I do a search.... I've added you on instagram :) I've certainly missed you on dreamwidth recently, but I guessed it was overwhelm and didn't want to add to it.

[redbird]

I would rather hear from you occasionally than not at all. Also, thanks for this explanatory post: "person is too busy with other things, and it's basically still good" is definitely better than someone not posting because they are unwell or up to their ass in alligators.

I'm still not sure what following people on Duolingo does, but am adding you; I'm Vicki308225.

[sfred]

That makes lots of sense. I look forward to seeing you here when you drop in, and in the other places.

[lorigami]

Would love to remain connected, however sporadic it is. <3

[fred_mouse]

Congratulations on the promotion and the PhD student! That transition to kids in different schools is a tricky one, here's to it going smoothly and your kids thriving on it.

[pbristow]

I'm hardly in a position to complain about lack of frequent posting around here! =;o}

You do what you need to do and/or makes you happy. While it's always sad to have less contact with people, I'd rather see a handful of posts of the things you really *want* to share with us, than hundreds made out a sense of obligation.

[davidgillon]

It seems to be natural that people's posting patterns evolve as their external life evolves. And given how much evolving yours has been doing in recent years it would be weird if you didn't have less time to post.

I'm with the others in thinking some contact is better than none. The twitter follow request from wtbdavidg is me, and I've added you on duolingo too (just lost my 285 day streak, wah!).

[susandennis]

i was just thinking about you the other day and wondering if you had abandoned. it's so thoughtful of you to post this so we all know. i'll miss you and the kids and the bloke. very much

[hilarita]

Happy to see you around when you're around. I've put in a follow request on Twitter, which is under my wallet name.

[castiron]

The acutal living of your extremely busy life and keeping yourself stable and sane are far more important than telling us random folks on the internet what you're doing. The occasional "hey, still alive, let me explain no let me sum up" post is gravy, not a requirement.

[silveradept]

Life has a nasty habit of trying to fill in any time we might have thought we had to do things, like journal. I'll look forward to hearing more as they arrive. I appreciate the post with the explanation.

Alas!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I will miss you.

[prophetsong]

I totally get where you're coming from. I miss my journal but find it impossible to carve out the space to actually use it. Life gets in the way of documenting it.

I have added you on Instagram and I see you've added me back (I'm Golden Platitudes). My account is fairly neglected at present but I have plans to to try to use it at some point.

[corvidology]

Life needs come first and if journalling becomes a chore, ack!

Be well and fabulous, of course!

[qian]

I will miss your regular posts but look forward to your sporadic updates as and when you feel up to doing them! TBH, sporadic updates and patchy interaction is how a good 70% of my DW circle use DW, as far as I can tell ...

[luna_puella]

I'm glad you're not leaving completely! I understand about life getting in the way, sometimes that's just how it is.

[lurkingcat]

I'll miss seeing you post here regularly (I've been a regular reader, if a very poor journaller recently) but it sounds like you're making the right decision for you.

Good luck with all the life changes and I'll be glad to see you here whenever you do have the time and inclination to post.

[emelbe]

You're definitely not the only one who's sad. I hope in time it feels more like and evolution than a loss. It's been so long! (How has it been so long?!) As long as you update sporadically, I'll check for updates sporadically.

[azurelunatic]

It is sad but I'm glad you're able to shuffle things around to take care of your priority things!

[forests_of_fire]

Thank you for popping in to say hi. ♥ I totally understand how life can get too busy to journal, but knowing that you've disappeared for Good Reasons rather than other ones is a comfort.

[cha_mel_eon]

Ahh this is not a surprise, but it sounds like a good decision considering your workload. I also meant to say, if you are in London for work let me know. I'd love to get a drink one day, outside of the lab! XD

[boundbooks]

Feeling this very much, also in a similar kind of boat. Totally understand, wish you the best of luck with your next steps in your journey!

[annofowlshire]

I think journaling is one of those things that you do when you need/want, and don't when you don't. Sometimes that's a lot, sometimes it's rare.

Always happy to hear from you, you don't have a keep a specific schedule for that to be true ♥

[sunflowerinrain]

I hope you do manage to keep posting somehow. So few of the old LJ community have stuck with blogging (or irc).

I wander through Dreamwidth sometimes (though not daily) and look at the reading page. Like you, I find it sad to lose news and updates of friends, and I miss all the people I used to know. Posting, though, is too much effort - especially ever since first lockdown I've become quite hermitlike, even to the point of no longer phoning my family. FB is easy because half-a-dozen words is adequate, and I don't use the dreaded platform for much personal stuff anyway, but it isn't really sufficient. Sometimes I stop and think of someone and realise I haven't had any contact with them for ... well, it's now years. Please please hang on!

wishing you well

[brainwane]

This is really belated but: thank you for all the past posts you shared and I will keep wishing you well and am always glad to read an update from you no matter whether it's been hours or ages since the previous one.

[kaberett]

I will miss you here, but I am relieved to know what is going on. Thank you. And I will come to find you on Duolingo now. <3


(And I'm commenting now, in December, because I have been managing to keep up my two posts a week but I have not been managing reading and I want to. I see you.)