Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Truth Time, Boys and Girls

First blog photo
I have been thinking about the future and want to get your feedback. After 4 years and 1400 posts, I'm wondering if Island Woman's Culebra should retire. While the sights and stories, to me, are still new and different every day, I'm wondering if, for you, the readers, the same views, the same events, the same fun days and nights might not be becoming too repetitive. It is a small island after all. I have a few faithful blog commenters and a good handful of followers. I hear from a lot more of you via email and on the street; statistics tell me there are readers around the world, so I know you're out there. I'm asking and hoping for thoughts and opinions.

Juan and Gretchen in an old incarnation of what is now Sandbar

In the BVI's they call New Year's Eve Old Year's Night. Should out with the old and in with the new be something I might think about planning on? If you'd like to see the blog continue or if you think you'd rather not, I'd really like to hear from you!

I know I've been quite frustrated by the lack of a decent camera. Through the generosity of readers via the tip jar, I'm waiting on a new, exciting for me, albeit not sexy, camera. Whether or not I continue the blog, recording daily life won't ever stop for me, and should I continue it, I'd hope to capture photos unavailable to me using the horrible phone camera. But they would still be variations on the continued theme of Culebra and the occasional travels off the rock.

Maybe the events of Friday's horror have just gotten me down. But maybe there is really something to the wondering...like a hostess at a party...are you still having a good time? Should I freshen your drink or should I get your coat?

There was a lot of life going on at the cart! Good days...well, a lot of them were
If I continue the blog, there will be some out with the old. I'll be looking for sponsors. Sponsors who value the things I value and things that hopefully, you, my readers, would value also. Some might not like that. Some might see it for what it is, offering (subtle, not in your face) adverts to people whose products I talk about anyway, use anyway and share already, just in a more formal way...and flat out, a way to increase my income, if they're interested. Crazy idea for one who sits under a palm tree drinking pina coladas day in and night out, but so it goes. Someone's gotta pay for that sunshine.

It's the moments
All quite serious! But please, let me know what you think. I value you, your input, regardless of how it comes in. Humor is welcome. In fact, it would be most welcome indeed!

Yesterday's sunrise...it's all there if we're looking
Have a take it to the top Tuesday! Do something telling.

40 comments:

  1. I am lucky enough to spend one glorious month per year on Culebra. The other 11 months I live there via your blog. Please, please, please, don't cut me off! Unless you are looking for a roommate....????

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  2. Reading your blog gives me info about the island and a different aspect, with lots of wonderful photos. I appreciate the work/time going into it all.

    However, if you go the "commercial" route, I would like my link removed from your site. William

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  3. MJ,

    I'd miss it if you stopped and it wouldn't be like missing some newspaper account. I'd miss that it is told in YOUR voice and through YOUR eyes and all the little insights that go along with it.

    And I don't find it the least bit repetitive.

    Chris

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  4. Please stay with your blog! I met you once years ago and told you then, I live vicariously through you. I miss Culebra. Keep up the good work.

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  5. I adore your blog and adore and admire you. Your blog is such a strong link to my beloved winter home. Please don't stop!

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  6. Well, from your comments, comments on facebook (where I link the blog), and emails, along with my daughter, who guilt tripped me last night when I told her what I was thinking about, that I'd be severing one of our mother/daughter connections - oh dear god, the guilt - I am swayed and imagine I'll not be taking the blog and tossing it off the bridge to join the bicycles, fishing gear and other assorted jetsam down there.

    Bill, no worries, if someone(s) is good enough to sponsor me, I'll remove the link to your blog, with a head's up, of course!

    For the rest of you, anyone who has - or who knows about at first hand - a really cool product that feels Culebra like, consider me your potential 'island woman of negotiable affections' - in a semi-professional, non-sexual context, of course.

    Thanks to all, by all of your various means, for the encouragement and kind words. Or is that the same thing? So, even though it's late for the 'anniversary' acknowledgement (I am on Culebra time, after all, and Ann forgot to remind me), it's into year five. Let the games begin. Again.

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  7. I read every posting. Makes me feel I really do have a stake in Culebra. Want to be a tour director, too? I need to get away for a couple of weeks to work. Any housesitting you can recommend? I'd put a grinny thing here, but I mean it.
    But please keep it up. Your 'pitchers' and your words! And the chickens, and their 4 am chorus of "PUERto RIco". I love it.

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    1. No no! No tour directing for me, but I CAN direct you to people who do that sort of thing really well.

      Housesitting is one of those funny jobs around here where it helps to know people a fair bit first...there's not a lot of it, we're a small island and people usually have their regulars. Not to be discouraging, anything is possible, just saying.

      Thank you!

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  8. MJ
    Please don't do away with the blog!!! In today's crazy world it is a breath of fresh air each morning to see what is going on in your world. Yes, it may sometimes be repetitive, but there is comfort in that. I would love to see local businesses profiled in an unbiased way. A monthly restaurant review perhaps? All of course handled with your unique,inviting humor and grace. If you are able to attract "like-minded" sponsors more power to you. Please keep doing what you do.
    Karen
    PS your forays off Island visiting the break things up nicely and they are very interesting. They helped me plan my California/Oregon dream trip

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    1. Thanks, and thanks for the review idea...I'll think about that.

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  9. It is very important for me (kenna) to read everyday

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    1. Hey Kenna! Glad you read it, better yet, get yourselves down here, those photos are really old now. Love.

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  10. “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well”
    ― Voltaire

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    1. Whoa! Well, I'm turning that right around to all of you, gentle readers, for giving me a great heart shot of re-invigorated spirit.

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  11. Please freshen my drink! I would be lost without your (and Bill's) blogging. Sometimes it is my only salvation from this crazy world we call life - you know - that thing that pays for my Culebra habit.

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    1. I've gotten the message! Thanks much, I think I can speak for Bill in saying there is too much beauty here not to share it. And for myself, I am just glad I wasn't boring the swimsuit, mental or phyical, off of anyone.

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  12. Don't *make* me put you over my knee for even *thinking* such a thing. Or maybe a supersoaker blast to the shnazolla........

    I read it every central Asian friggin day......

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    1. Is that a threat, my dear? I'll keep posting if you promise me a supersoaker re-match on my turf. Sorry, I can't provide fog.

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  13. It's probably unfair, but when my male friends have self-doubt issues, they label it a mid-life crisis and treat it by buying a Corvette and dating women half their age. I'm glad that the chorus, here, seems to have reversed the course (please add my name to the list of no, No, NOs), but keep the 'Vette and boy-toy remedy in reserve, just in case of a relapse!

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    1. I'd probably be more interested in a 1947 Land Rover and a cruiser with a country house; too bad I couldn't live in the land of doubt more than 12 hours. I'll have to work on that.

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    2. I know that, re: your choice of toys. But it didn't fit in the silly metaphor worth a dang!

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    3. See you soon enough, we'll work on metaphors. 'This drink is like...'

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  14. I can't always count on hitting all the green lights on my way home from work, but I can count on you to make me smile, breathe and think. Hearing about my beloved Culebra everyday from you with your eye for the quirky, beautiful and paradoxical means so much to me, I would be less of who I am without you! Please keep blogging MJ!

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    1. That is so lovely, I had to check to make sure you were writing to me. Ok, I'm pretty overwhelmed by what you wrote and hope I can keep that feeling going. Excuse me, I have to go talk to the cat now.

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    2. No pressure or anything, haha!

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  15. I visited Culebra last year and fell in love with the quiet, the beauty, the expat characters and locals I met, the quirky vibe, all of it! You bring me back to my happy place every day, so please please please don't stop!

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    1. Quirky be our vibe, thanks for helping me think I might capture some of that!

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  16. Mary in Kansas12/19/12, 8:23 AM

    Oh, Please don't stop! This is the first thing I read each morning. Stuck in the middle of the USA, it keeps me up on what is happening on this beautiful little island, and keeps the memories alive for me between my short yearly visits. I may not know everyone you reference, but I enjoy it never the less, especially your photos.

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    1. Oh! I've lived in Kansas (and my daughter and grandkids still do), so I can appreciate that sentiment. I'm keeping on keeping on, enjoy and thank you!

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  17. I would never quit my blog. If you like it, do it. If you don't, don't.
    Sounds like you don't enjoy it anymore. maybe you need to adjust your attitude. If you don't like blogging now, go back and do what you were doing when you did like it.
    Or quit.
    I've often thought of un-following you simply because of the ridiculous word verification. It is extremely annoying and redundant because Blogger has very good spam protection.
    51 sedueig

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    1. Well, Mark, I'm just not that black & white a person. I didn''t say I don't enjoy it, but I do like to know people who read it are still having a good time, yep, that matters to me.

      Sorry about the word verification, despite Blogger's spam protection, a lot of freaks are out there who like to post to every blog they can get their keyboards on and I was getting too many of them. As you put it, if you like it, stay, if you don't, quit.

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  18. Wow, MJ, lots of love out there! Your dear readers are not surprised!

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    1. I have to tell you, I was very surprised. And humbled, but not in a crawl around in the dirt sort of way (too many rocks in my yard). I've definitely had my spirits and concerns lifted! There's a thank you post in here somewhere, but I don't even know where to begin, it sort of makes me start sweating and feeling hives breaking out to think about it.

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  19. I knew you wouldn't leave us! Wheeew..sigh of relief.

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  20. Continue Please!

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    1. I am! I promise! Well, barring electrical outages...

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  21. I always read your blog even if I never comment. I especially like seeing photos of the locals at various events!
    Hope you keep it up, Glenda

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    1. Thanks, Glenda! I know there are plenty who read and don't comment and that is just fine...but it is good to find out the circle is bigger than my brother and kids and a few friends.

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