I don't remember the last time I posted here on SLF. Maybe a year ago? Two? No matter.
By way of re-introduction, about five years ago I burned out severely at work (IT) and was fortunate enough to do something quite different and start a photography business. SLF was instrumental in providing the how-tos and support for the move to living more simply and, I must say, provided a touchstone in the earliest days of this new stage of life. As time went by, however, it became more obvious to me that the forum could not provide what I needed at those times, so I drifted away, posting less and less until I just stopped logging in altogether some time ago.
Fast forward ... DW and I are still doing fine, enjoying grandchild #1 and anticipating #2 literally any day now. DW still is working, with her retirement day in sight (2019). I closed my business, largely because real-estate photography has changed in ways I don't want to and because I was not gaining traction in it with what turned out to be a relatively low priority in my life. For all intents and purposes, I've retired.
Both DW and I are experiencing getting older, both now in our late 50s, and realizing increasingly that we are not the people we were 15-20 years ago -- but, then, the world is not what it was 15-20 years ago. But I have not yet stopped moving. I'm more physically active now than I've been in several years. I've lost 25 pounds in the last year just out of being busy (and away from ready sources of food I'll eat). I've become much more involved in core volunteer activities (like feeding people) and active in fighting certain political developments (much as I'd like, you can't fight them all).
I've learned to focus better and to ignore more of the bull----. And I feel the need to come back. Even as entropy continually attacks order, some aspects of our lives are much simpler now. But others are not. I still see value in a diversity of thoughts around the idea of living simply. And, looking at the last month or so of posts here, it seems there are several who still participate in many areas. That's A Good Thing. I am hopeful I can contribute again and that SLF, in turn, will serve as a supportive environment for some re-centering.
I'm going to try this again. Thanks for having me back.