Saturday, December 19, 2009

The Last Waltz - One Last Update

UPDATE:  I will be taking this blog offline and making it private on Sunday night.  I will not delete it or abandon it because I do plan to eventually get back to blogging in about four years - or whenever I actually retire.  Until then, I've decided to simply keep it private.  But I won't actually be updating anything so nobody will be missing any new posting, I promise.  Once again, my readers have given me great joy for the past five years. See you all in the next permutation of life :)

Readers may have noticed that I've been posting less and my posts have not been as overtly political as usual.  I won't be coy about it.  I have been slowly disengaging from blogging because it's time to close up shop.

I did this once before because I was getting burned out and wanted to move on to try different forms of writing.  But once I had taken a much needed break, I realized how much I truly missed blogging and came back.  This time is different.

First of all, I'm not burnt out.  And I already know that I will miss it.  My reason for leaving is much simpler now than it was the first time I took a break.  I have a new job that would make blogging a conflict of interest.  I won't go into the details about the job, but please believe me that it would present a real conflict for me and my employer if I were to be running a blog and publicly sounding off about politics and other controversial issues.

I will still keep my Twitter and Facebook accounts as those are personal social networking sites.  But even there, my writing will be less about politics and more about personal sharing although, of course, I will still avidly be following politics.  I just won't be as expressive with my own opinions.

As much as I have enjoyed sharing those opinions through my blog, it is time for me to move on and to once again try something different and in this case, that something different pays very well.

I hope my readers are happy for me.  Please know I will miss all of you very much because I have had the best audience a political blogger could ever hope for.  You have been thoughtful, intelligent readers whose comments, even when disagreeing with me, have always challenged me and made me think about my own positions and why I held them.  I will miss that give and take.

And I am profoundly grateful to all my fellow bloggers whose support for my efforts have meant so much to me.  Across the aisle and across the political spectrum, I have truly found a group of people who have shared my passion for better government and for improving people's lives, even when we've disagreed about the best way to do so.

To be honest, I don't consider this leave taking permanent because in four years I will be thinking about retirement.  No matter how much I may love a job - and I very much expect to be loving the new one - I believe there is a time for everything under the sun and that includes moving on and discovering still other adventures.  One of those might be coming back to blogging.  Or by then, there may be even more innovative media and fresher opportunities.

For now, though, that new opportunity lies in a change in my day job that will present challenges and adventures which will engage my time and energy in fresh directions.  While I will miss what I leave behind, I am looking forward to what lies ahead.

So, till we meet again...

30 comments:

Adam Sharp said...

Your voice will be missed, even if it's just for four years.

Elaine in Roanoke said...

We'll miss your insights...Elaine in Roanoke. Best of luck with the new job.

TheGreenMiles said...

I'm very thankful for my happy blog set up -- I love my job that allows me to blog in off hours, and my employer is fine with me doing it. We'll miss you while you're gone and will be hopeful you can come back to it some day!

Madison Law & Strategy Group, PLLC said...

Karen, this is sad news for the progressive Virginia blogosphere (and politics in general)... We'll miss you but I know we'll see you in activist circles and that you'll put the passion you always showed in AIAW to use in other ways... and congrats on the new job!

Mike

Isophorone said...

Karen,

Best of luck with your new job. Even though we disagree on a lot of things, I will miss your thoughtful comments and nice demeanor. Stop by and visit if that is not too much of a conflict of interest.

Vivian J. Paige said...

I always say that work gets in the way of having fun :) Best of luck to you in your new job.

Ken Cuccinelli said...

Karen, I'll look forward to your return to the blogosphere! You've been one of my favorite sites from your side of the aisle that I've read over the years. Even if I don't tend to agree with you on some issues, I appreciate the high quality and civil nature of your presentation.

Maybe you could teach Ben a little something in that regard?

Sincerely,
Ken Cuccinelli

Little David said...

While I have not always agreed with you, I think it is a poor shape of things that your conditions of employment depends on your not exercising your first amendment rights.

Leslie Byrne said...

Karen: First I want to wish you the best with the new job. I hope this is just a hiatus from the blogosphere and not a "forever" thing.

Loudoun Insider said...

You will be missed! I rarely agreed with your positions, but you always put forth your ideas in a reasonable manner. You have done a great service to political discourse in Virginia. Come back soon!

Anne said...

Good luck to you in all that you do from your Republican lurker friend! Happy Holidays!! Best Wishes!!!

Liz Miller said...

You will definitely be missed.

Mike@Blueweeds said...

You will be missed. Thanks for all you have contributed to the clacking class ... and all the best in your new adventures.

Mike

Will Vehrs said...

Best wishes for success in your new job! Thank you for your years of service to the blogosphere and the marketplace of ideas.

Anonymous said...

Karen: While our views often diverge, I've long been a big fan of AIAW and am sorry to see you leave the blogosphere. Thanks for all your insightful posts, and have a great holiday season.

J. Tyler Ballance said...

Good luck with the new job.

I wondered who the one person in Virginia who got a job in December was. Congratulations.

As for the blog, given that it has a certain amount of market recognition, can't you transfer it to some other voices from the progressive spectrum?

We will always need reasonable voices from the Democratic side, who also are willing to acknowledge that most often, a solution can be found between the two political extremes.

Jim from Centreville said...

Karen,

Ken's comment alone shows the respect that you have created in Western Fairfax. We may have disagreed more often than we agreed but I always appreciated your voice. It will be missed. Good luck in your new venture and rest assured that you will be missed.

Mike said...

Best of luck in the future. Hopefully some new voices will step into the void you leave behind.

Unknown said...

Karen - I have loved reading your blog. I'll miss your unique and thoughtful perspective on issues.

Brian W. Schoeneman said...

Karen, I'll miss reading your posts - they were always insightful and interesting, even if we don't always agree. You, like your husband, are a class act and I'm proud to call you a friend. Good luck with the new job!

J.R.Hoeft said...

Nice job over the years, Karen...and even those few misguided moments posting at Bearing Drift!

Good luck with the new gig.

You'll be back....they always come back.

Crystal Clear Conservative said...

Karen,

Best of luck to you in your new job. I will miss reading your posts.

Krystle at Crystal Clear Conservative

Paradox13VA said...

Thanks for your voice and inspiration, and best of luck!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
reston libertarian said...

Karen,
Good luck, you will be missed. We are losing one of the more responsible voices in the Virginia blogosphere.

Unknown said...

Karen, I always considered your site and comments top notch ... I know in some way you'll keep fighting the good fight!

All the best in the new decade!

Karen Duncan said...

I want to thank every one of you. It's readers, politicians, and fellow bloggers like you who have made these four plus years a pure joy.

I do promise I will be back someday when circumstances permit it. So, until we met again...

Have a happy holiday.

Catzmaw said...

Dagnab it, I'm going to miss you. I haven't been that active myself due to family issues, but have always enjoyed dipping in to read your posts. Guess I'll have to wait four years and see what turns up.

Best of luck in your new job. Considering that I've been self-employed since the 80s I sometimes have a fantasy about getting a job with real bennies and no worries about paying the office rent or finding a decent fax machine. Hope you enjoy your new position very much.

Charlie Bishop said...

We've had a disagreement or two, Karen, but your presence will be missed.

Good luck in your new job, have a happy, safe, and joyous Christmas (or winter solstice, or whatever) and I hope your new direction will lead you to the goals you desire.

Bwana said...

I have finally collected my thoughts enough to say your departure, although understandable, is a loss to intelligent and polite political discourse. I feel as though I have lost a blogging friend, and that the blogosphere will be the less for your departure.