I'm going to be away starting on Tues the 22nd, for about two weeks. Work on Border Skirmish and other areas will be progressing while I'm gone.

In the meantime, I leave you in the capable hands of our Guides, and the remaining devs. If you need to reach someone, be sure to use the "support" and "billing" role-addresses, and not email me personally, as I won't be getting back to you.

I will be trying to decompress, and won't be plugging into much technology, if at all possible. I don't want my absence to dishearten anyone about our progress or direction.. I meant everything I said in the latest newspost (and accompanying thread). I'm hoping that this time will give me a bit better perspective on our various challenges, and how to go about them, but our goals and direction will remain the same. This will be the year that The Stuff Finally Happens.

This is a new thing for me, I've never been away from the company for more than a couple of days (and rarely more than 7 hours). Even in the aftermath of the accident summer-before-last, I still checked in daily and tried to stay on top of things. So, going away and unplugging is kind of a scary idea, and has some accompanying anxiety for me, but it's probably a good idea. At least once a decade.

So, I'll be off in a warmer locale staying with family for a couple of weeks, and I'll see you all when I return.

Have a nice vacation, Inc, you certainly deserve it after all you've done for the game - and for us, players!

Have a relaxing vacation- try not to worry, we won't break anything* while you're gone

*just the whole game

Aye , have a good break .

Good to hear.

I know for myself that if I don't periodically step away from my own work I loose perspective. You, I think, will be pleasantly surprised at the positive effect a couple of days/weeks away will have.

Have fun, drink lots, and spend time in good company.

Make sure u drink substantial amounts of beer
That'll give u lots of inspiration and ideas for errrrrr...

Darn, drank too much

Enjoy your well earned vacation Inc.!

Aye recharge yourself Inc, you deserve a break... :)

Seek thy zen in the wafting palms
Drink rum, not beer, in warmer climes
Your mind will wander to center itself
and you will return to better times.

Enjoy!!

There's this nice little island in the Bahamas that specifically does NOT allow technology on the island. No cellular service, no wi-fi, no internet of any kind. There is ONE telephone on the island.

I can't recall if it has electricity or not.

Anyway, sounds like the perfect place, as long as they have an unlimited supply of tequila (Rum will do in a pinch), stuff to mix it with, and some nice "scenery."

Leber, I want the name of that island for my vacation! Anywhere my blackberry can't work is high on my list.

Himalaya.

http://www.petergreenberg.com/2007/08/21/off-the-grid-immersive-vacations/

Take it easy, John.

Had bob and sheri on the radio one am and this woman called up to tell them that she has no-electricity night. they turn off all the electricity in the house, all electronics and break out the candles to do board games, card games and other group/social stuff with her kids.

I used to live on Big Munson Island (24.62180 LAT, -81.39290 LON) for a over a year and we didn't have electricity or running water. Best time of my life. Had to paddle back and forth. Hope your time is just as fun, where ever it is.

Blacknet - I've done the no electricity night, too. Its actually a lot of fun. Not allowing *my*self to turn on electronic gizmos forces me to think of healthier things to do with my time, that may not be as immediately gratifying, but are immensely more gratifying after an hour or so.

So Inc, I hope your unplugging goes really well! Great job with getting the BSkirmish out.

blacknet: A bit radical, but pretty much what I do. If I don't want to be disturbed, I turn off certain things, like telephone, internet...

Personally, I would leave the electricity on. Warm water is better than cold water to shower with (proven fact).

reality check here. doing a small amount over time is ok. doing a large starvation amount at once will only set you up for a glut when it is resumed, often super unhealthy.

Ed

The content of the glut you speak of is more important than the fact it's a glut. Clearly Ed, you've been starving yourself of doing large starvation amounts all at once.

Thanks for the good wishes, all. I'm back.. kind of. The winter storms resulted in my flight getting canceled, and then my re-booked flight getting canceled two days later. So, I'm stuck in FL for a few more days (several hours drive time from the airport, logistics and all), which isn't really so bad.. much nicer weather than Milwaukee right now, but sporadic computer access. So, trying to get back into the swing of things from remote. Hope all's going well. I'm reading my email again, but only once a day at the moment. FYI.