Ok, first of all, we know it sounds pretty silly to be making a post about being on hiatus, while on hiatus.
I’m really not sure what to call what we’re doing right now.
But we couldn’t just let all of the outpouring of support we’ve gotten over the past few days just sit there. We never ever imagined so many were reading along so closely, and the number of first time commenters is quite humbling (thank you for de-lurking.. each and every one of you!).
So first of all, a BIG HUGE THANK YOU for seeing and acknowledging the raw and authentic nature of our last post, for seeing us as human – and for reflecting back the gratitude that is in your hearts. For sharing a piece of yourself. This sort of stuff, humbles us.
It would take forever to individually respond to each of you.. know you have been heard, and your words are impacting us profoundly in positive ways.
It’s actually quite overwhelming. We’re really not quite sure what to do with it all.
We never set out to be ‘bloggers’ or ‘YouTube personalities’ or whatever it is we seem to have become. We look at each other.. we’re Chris. We’re Cherie. We’re owned by a cat. We’re just two flawed people who post some words every so often and hope they don’t lead too many people astray.
How We Got Here
We’ve been reflecting a lot these past few days as we try to figure out how we got to our current intersection.
Any of our long time readers know that for the past couple of years we have been following one major project after another – both personally and professionally – with no real breaks. We’ve accomplished some pretty remarkable stuff, and we are proud of what we’ve been able to contribute.
But it all takes its tolls, and we have no one to blame but ourselves for not taking breathers in-between.
But we’ve arrived, and now we must deal with it.
Of course, it’s not just about a regular trickle of non-supportive (and sometimes quite nasty) comments. Us humans are more complex beings than that.
On a good day, the comments flow right off our backs like a duck with a smooth oily coat of feathers.
However, that coat is worn thin right now. And even well intentioned but critical words can be read with more negativity than was written, and each individually is easy enough to set aside. But one by one they add up to sounding like one big giant ‘YOU SUCK’ chant on repeat.
We need to take some time to grow some new feathers, or add some new oil.. or whatever ducks do. There’s deeper issues that are causing that reaction.
We’re taking the time we need to refocus on ourselves. Reconnect with each other. And re-evaluate our priorities going forward instead of continuing to keep committing to things just to have something to do next.
So, yes, we have decided we are taking a hiatus from creating new content under the Technomadia name here on the blog, on YouTube, on Instagram, on Facebook, on RVillage and our live video chats.
For how long? That remains to be seen. Until it feels right, I suppose. Maybe it’s a couple more weeks.. maybe a couple months. But I do believe we’ll be back.
Hiatus FAQs
In the outpouring of comments we’ve gotten on the blog, Facebook and e-mails – there are several similar questions and suggestions we’ve gotten. I thought I’d take a moment to address them here:
‘Just remove all the negative comments and ban the posters.’
We do delete negative comments as soon as we see them. And we also regularly use the ‘ban’ button where it is available to prevent future comments.
However, by the time we get to any delete/ban button – we have already read the comment. On a good day, like I said, it just flows off our back.
But when we’re worn down, that’s a lot tougher to do.
We know some creators just turn off comments all together to deal with it. We’ve contemplated that, but that would remove one of the elements we truly enjoy – the interactions. We love helping, answering questions (and those answers being in a public place that might help others).. and yes, after spending dozens of hours creating a piece – we do so love hearing a ‘thank you’.
‘Why don’t you just hire a social media manager to screen all your comments?’
Some may not realize that Technomadia.com is not our business.
Hiring people would make it more of a business, and thus we’d have to put focus on generating income off this blog to support that. And we just don’t want to go there, and we don’t think you want us cluttering this up with ads, sponsors and such to support it.
We want what we do give here on Technomadia to be a gift, to be from our hearts – not from the motivation of having to produce income so we can afford to support it. Technomadia would then become a job for us.
Technomadia is, and alway has been, our personal space.
Our work is part of our lives. So yes, some of our income producing endeavors do get mentioned in our tales. And some of our services & products are directly influenced by our lifestyle choices. These are fine lines – not all careers have clear divisions from life.
Why don’t you create a membership site so that the ‘true’ fans can have access and keep out the negatives?
First of all.. see above. That whole personal versus business thing, and wanting our content to be a gift and accessible to all.
We actually have created a membership site – we took all of our RV Mobile Internet postings and created RVMobileInternet.com last year. A lot of content over there is free, including our news feeds and some of our popular guides. It’s a place we can wax on endlessly about the topic, and be met with appreciative eyes.
We do have membership levels for those who want to support the resource center, go deeper with our content and even interact with us and the community that has formed.
That model has worked out quite well. It funds the efforts put into it and is a joy to host. Suffice it to say, even if we wanted to approach another topic for a similar model (such as solar, batteries, working on the road, RVing lifestyle, etc.) – we just don’t have the time.
Will RVMobileInternet.com and Mobile Internet Aficionados continue?
Absolutely, our business endeavors over at RVMobileInternet are continuing on while we’re on personal hiatus. We made a very conscious commitment to the site, our community and our members. It is our current professional priority.
We are tracking the industry news and cover it from the unique RVers angle in our newsfeed. We continue to create exclusive content for our members, testing & reviewing gear and assisting members in our forums. That will not change, except now – we have even more time for it.
Blasts from the Past
In the meantime while we figure things out, I’m going to periodically post links back to some oldies but goodie posts.
After 9+ years of blogging, we probably have some content that newer readers haven’t found yet – and perhaps even long time readers have forgotten about.
So, we’re not completely going away. Just taking a break from creating new content. I suppose.
Here’s today’s dose:
- No Excuses: Go Nomadic – Our blog series of articles going over some of the common logistics that nomads face – income on the road, healthcare, safety, purging your stuff, pets, domicile/mail and more. We do have an optional ‘pay as you wish’ eBook if you prefer, but the blog series is the same thing and completely free.
- Realities & Myths of Full Time RVing — Our most popular video chat, overviewing the pros & cons of RVing, and dispelling the myths. We’ve been told it’s a must watch’ for anyone considering the lifestyle.
- Non-Retired Younger’ RVing Nomad Blogs — Links to others living awesome lives on the road. We’re not the only ones blogging about this stuff, go check some of our friends & peers while we’re taking a hiatus.
- Guide to Finding RV Parks, Campgrounds and Boondocking – How do we find all our great camp spots? Here’s our guide.
- Setting up Domicile in Florida – Considering ‘moving’ your domicile to Florida? Perhaps in light of the 2016 Health Care Options on the ACA making Florida more attractive? Here’s the steps we took to set up our domicile a couple years back.
I just found your site ten days ago and have really enjoyed reading about your adventures–especially r.e. solar power and lithium batteries.
Sorry to hear the negative feedback got to be too much. I hope you’ll bounce back and continue to share!
I found your blog about four months ago and have really enjoyed it and now I read that you are going silent for a while. I hope you don’t stay gone too long. My wife and I are about 10 months away from total retirement and then we will be spending about 50% of our time ‘kinda’ following in your footsteps. I hate to see you go and hope that you keep us on your contact list for the future. I can’t put myself in your place, but something that has served me well through the years is”if someone does not like me, then it is their loss. A lot of other smart people do!”
Chris and Cherie, Just know there are a lot of us out here that do appreciate all that you guys put into this site, even if we don’t voice it all the time. It was you guys that made me realize I could take to the road full time while still working. It worked pretty well and we saw a lot of country over the last 18 months (maybe too much)! We are taking a winter break now to recharge ourselves and see if we want to settle down in the place we are at now. But we’ll probably be back on the road in the spring.
I haven’t blogged partly as I wasn’t sure how long we were going to do it and also having to deal with the negative side of the internet, so I feel for you guys and hope you get to recharge properly.
Thanks again for giving me the courage to take my work on the road!
Wow, what a beautiful shot of a perfect rainbow (God’s covenant). There are plenty of your GREAT posts to be read and re-read until your return.
Yay Re-runs! Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything you do.
Happy Dance!
The both of you have been a major inspiration to help us move in to our fulltime lifestyle. I cannot imagine a more professional, informative and fun place to learn about being a nomad. Thank you !!! We wish you the best and hope you come back to us in the future.
Will check out the blasts from the past and look forward to new ones when you both are up and running and refreshed. Thanks!
Wishing you all the best until you return. Safe travels.
Obviously I am also a raving fan (and no, that doesn’t equate to a raving lunatic no matter what anybody else says) who sends people your way on a frequent basis. So glad that you are taking the time to just be for awhile. Although it must seem odd, you guys are celebrities in a small world – heck, I know I’d be thrilled if I saw the Zephyr parked nearby. So like all celebs, albeit minor ones, you have to jealously guard your privacy. Thankfully, the RV community isn’t overrun with paparazzi! And if our paths ever do cross, I promise to be respectful and only ask for Kiki’s paw-o-graph. Take care and “see” you back here someday.
Hi Chris & Cherie – this is my first time posting but I wanted to say thank you for sharing so much from your heart. I have followed you for only several months but that is enough time for me to know that you both are very hard working and truly remarkable people. Your ability to share the realities of the RV lifestyle has inspired me to start dreaming again. You both deserve some good R & R time!
I believe the most difficult thing for all of us is to be aware of becoming trapped by our own success, so time-outs are necessary. God Bless you.
Dave
Dear Cherie, I most humbly apologize for not thanking you for your blog. I had no thought that you would want to hear from me. I’m a little shocked when I realize I would never not thank someone in person who had given me such a gift of herself. You are real people, not to be taken lightly. By being good to yourself, you are being good to me. Thank you dear one.
I think you two just rock. Love the new Internet book , take a break I will be here when you get back.
I was in the telecommunications business for 37 years and know the information you post will always been spot on. You guys do a great job and I wish you the best with your time “off”. I know your post come from the heart, and I appreciate your genuineness. Enjoy your time, recharge your batteries, and I look forward to hearing more from you.
This is my first time commenting but I have been following you for a couple of years and thoroughly enjoy your blog and video’s… they are very informative and a hoot to watch! I can certainly appreciate the time it takes to do what you do that helps out so many people like me and my husband. Rest up you deserve it and we’ll be looking forward to your next posts when you are ready!
See you soon. Get some rest.
I suggest you just pull and “Adelle” ~ Take a breather, smell the flowers, have a child! (Well, you don’t have to go THAT far!).
Just like her, when you’re ready to come back, you’ll know it. And you’ll be ready to make your own “great music”!
Relax and recharge. Getting burnt out is not fun and you can’t be at your creative best if you are. Thanks for all the time and effort you both put into each and every project.
Paul
I am thrilled to see this post. Thank you for it. Please, take care of yourselves for as long as it takes. We’ll still be here when you are ready to return.
Keep doing what y’all are doing. You inspired us to do the rving. Take as much time as needed. Every one needs a break. Enjoy the wine and see you down the road.
I can notnsay thank you enough for everything you all have done to help us noobs prepare or even begin to think of RVing as a lifestyle. One that is rewarding instead one of being in a rat wheel day after day. Not that having a pet mouse is bad.
I understand your need to step back. It is sad to know your posts won’t be there. I look forward to when you return. Take care of yourselves.
1ST time posting, I have been following you guys for almost a year. Found you before we went full time this past Oct 7th. I have learned a lot from your videos & websites.
I just want to give my 2 cents worth.
I think what your doing is great, I have used much of your advice to make some of my decisions.
Now you do know and realize that most hate/negative comments come out of jealousy and envy. I would like to be able to do what you do and am a little jealous of you, but in a good way. But some people lash out in their jealousy and spew out hate and contemp because of it.
Well that is all I wanted to say.
May God Bless you in your hearts and mind and fill you with love for the hates, (that really makes them mad.)
Take your time and we’ll see you on the other side.
Brian
rvingmaine-iacs
First time comment-er – Playing catch up with the drama, I say “screw the haters – rock on with your bad selves!”
Thanks for all you do, y’all have helped me tremendously – thank you!!!
My wife and I recently retired young (52) and went on the road full time in May. We joined Escapers, saw your RV at the balloon fiesta, and had hoped we’d get to meet you in person, but that just never happened. My background is tech (remember edlin?). I’ve been following you for years, from a distance, and to me the both of you are rock stars. I appreciate technical, logical, well informed people who share. We probably wouldn’t have gone full time without the wonderful information you’ve shared. From lithium batteries to healthcare, we’ve learned so much and really value the both of you. I would think there are many more out there like us. Take care, and know you are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for all of the wonderful information you share! Your life journey gives us such hope that one day, we too, could be free. I am a classic ‘sandwich’ generation person – I have 2 kids to finish raising while being the sole caretaker for elderly parents. The stress is overwhelming. I long for the day that I can hit the road and be free to explore this great country we live in. But the reality is that I won’t be able to do that for at least another 10 years. So, I live vicariously through your blog, as well as several others. No pressure! :))
Thanks for the previous blog links. I can’t wait to read them!
Take whatever time you need to take care of yourselves. As one other commentor said, ‘Listen to the rainbow!’.
We are all cheering for you!
See, even when taking a break, your heart is so big that you are still looking out for readers! You and Chris truly are a gift to all of out there, whether doing it or just in dreaming stage like me. Thank you!
Really looking forward to what you guys share once your batteries are recharged 🙂
Thanks for everything you guys/
Thanks for all you do.
I get the sense that you two feel the love 🙂
Thank YOU for your very thoughtful article. As a consumer of your content I am not sure I fully appreciated all the heart and soul you pour into your writing and videos. To show my appreciation and support I will be signing up for your paid site.
We don’t have an RV yet and the timing will actually be dependent on the ongoing health of our handicapped son. We have been vicariously living the RV Life thru your blog as well as others.
Thank YOU!!!
Jeff Egan
Thanks for the links. It seems like there’s always more to learn, so thank you. Take care of yourselves. We’re not going anywhere.
It is good to step back and figure things out. I’m prob not the only one that assumed this was a business site. I was self-employed for over 25 years and it can be difficult to seperate work and private time. And now I’m crazy enough to start up a new business now after taking a break for 8 years.
Thank you for your wonderful content! Enjoy your break and we’ll see you on the flipside!
I bless you from Pretoria, South Africa! My wife and I, both 60 years young (blind date 40 years ago), are planning full time RVing here in SA soon, and our investigations on the Internet includes Technomadia big time!. Enjoy your well deserved rest and know that you are appreciated around the world. Many of the equipment you shared about we found suppliers in SA, so it is well worth our while to read, listen and watch what you say. Thanks a lot!
We had to quit full-timing and have bought a home this year. That means we are enjoying the country through other’s eyes by reading favorite blogs. Yours is indeed a favorite! Rest–rest well–take time for yourself–and you will come out the other side stronger. Listen to the rainbow! 🙂
Frankly, the only way I could give you two personal space is to not read your words or watch your videos. And I am simply not going to do that. Too bad for you! Very nice rainbow shot at the top! Take care of yourselves and each other and go for a walk at least every other day. Keep in mind this phrase “We do good work.”
Don’t worry about us. Relax. Regroup. Enjoy each other and the cat. We’ll be fine until you get back.
Thanks for the update, I am glad you will be working on taking care of yourselves…. We will still be here when you’re ready to share again!
Love you’s, take care, see you latter.
I love that you posted links to content from the past. I can easily get my Technomadia fix now. Since I only found you two less than a year ago, there are many previous posts that I have not yet enjoyed. Take the time you both need to feel happy and refreshed. All your years of posting have resulted in a wealth of information that can satisfy many of us while you take a well deserved hiatus. Sending much love and hugs!
John really said it all. Like they tell you on the plane: in an emergency, secure your own breathing first before assisting others.
I am looking forward to meeting you on the road someday.
We love you guys!
The ability to be around the people we want or no one at all is what makes this nomadic lifestyle so attractive to us. Take all the time you need to decompress and regenerate. We will be here when you come back.
Happy Trails!
I love you guys! I know what you mean about comments – and appreciating them. I have a blog that I started mainly to keep my friends and family up to date. My family and real life friends don’t seem to read it often (if at all).
You WILL figure it out and you aren’t just “bloggers” or “YouTube personalities” to some of us you are STARS! As such though anyone else that blogs or uses social media AND does computer work for a living (yup I be one of “those”) will understand when you’ve burned out and one negative comment comes along and you throw up your hands and go “I don’t need THIS”. Just know at least for me, I understand the need for a social media break but that I certainly miss your adventures, information and posts. You must take care of YOU (physically, emotionally and spiritually) first…none of the rest matters in the big picture. You have so much content here that readers certainly can go back for good refreshers in the meantime. <3
I second John below as well. Because of the two of you and many others like you I am able to live vicariously through you.And if I ever have the opportunity to do this in the future I am better informed because of you guys. God Bless.
I have followed your site for some time from the UK, and whilst I am unlikely to ever move to the US and covert a vintage bus, I have nevertheless enjoyed every moment reading about the restoration of your Bus, your trials and travels. I wish you every happiness as you recharge your batteries, thank you for your fantastic efforts thus far, and look forward to someday reading new content in the future. Good luck, you will be missed from over the pond.
Your say, your way. You can’t give what you don’t have, and taking the time to refill your barrels is critical to not only mental, but physical health. I know you’re still there, and look forward to your re-energized return, whenever that might be.
Don’t let the Turkeys get you down. They will suffer more than you.
Not sure the “haters” you speak of hate you per say. I believe perhaps they may have reached burnout stage themselves on possible “styles” or “presentations.” Evaluating a few of the nastiness I’ve seen, it appears to be more of the “attitude” thing which is more than likely the root of the “haters” comments. May be best to simple reevaluate the how you present yourself, or present your topic. I don’t know, I am just offering my overly priced education in the mental health field. Good Luck. Be Happy. Smile. Better days ahead.
Oh.. there are certainly some comments that are indeed just presentation style difference. And there are others….
I’ve always read and enjoyed each and every post on Facebook and your blog. I also purchased your Internet guide and use your cell signal app religiously. Some might say I’m a big fan. FYI, largely due to your posts, my wife and I purchased a 42′ DP and since 1 March have logged over 5100 miles. When I say you have influence and make a difference, I really mean it. I really would like to meet you both someday. Safe travels till then!
Thanks! Rest you gentle, sleep you sound.
I second John below; you two are the greatest.
I really enjoy your posts,check every for new one.Will be really happy when you are rested and ready to go again.Till then have a good one.
First – you are great.
Second – you are greater.
Third – you two are the greatest.
I have learned the hard way that the caretaker must take care of themselves first.
Please allow enough time / effort to recharge your batteries.
From my belief location I say: Bless you.
Sigh…such a beautiful site to “re-oil” your feathers. I’ll look forward to your return but until then relax and enjoy each other and the sites!
Chris and Cherie, I have enjoyed all of your stuff since I found you guys a few years back. Your’s is one of my 3 favorite blogs. I have been a member of RVMobileInternet since the beginning and truly enjoyed meeting you two a few times at Escapades in 2014 and 2015. I have all of your Android apps and wish you both the peace and success you need and deserve. Take as long as you need and come back refreshed.
Thank you for everything you have done for us! You both have helped us get on the road fulltime while having demanding jobs that require staying connected.. Enjoy your personal time away because you certainly deserve it! Take care Jamie and Shannon
Chris and Cherie…Your loyal followers will remain loyal so go and have some fun, discover new experiences and check in every once and a while…we all love you two!!!!