We have been blogging now for over 12 years with our first post coming out in February 2014. We had sold our house, 90% of our belongings and were weeks from going on the road in our RV. That first post received one comment. The following week, our next post received 3 comments. Over the next 12 years, that one reader has been a faithful reader as far as I can tell, commenting on each and every blog.
Who was this reader you ask? Surely it was someone who knew us, a family member or a good friend who wanted to follow along as we went on our big adventure. Oh, contraire. Bloggers out there know family members rarely comment on your posts. This reader was someone I had not even met (yet), but was a likeminded traveler/blogger, traveling the country with their spouse.
That got me to thinking... who are the top 5 commentors who have been consistently reading and commenting on our blog as I went back to 2014 and took a look. Most, of our commentors were and continue to be fellow bloggers; some were travelers like us, others were living a "normal" life and blog about their weekly lives. I have a loose rule that if someone comments on our blog, I in turn read their blog and leave a comment. Some of these "relationships" have continued for over a decade.
Going back and reading those early posts brings back a lot of memories and a lot of questions. The memories were from the many adventures and new experiences we had back then. The questions came from wondering where some of these bloggers that stopped blogging were today. Some wrote a farewell post saying that they were moving on to another chapter of their lives and were no longer going to blog, others just disappeared into the mist. I sometimes learned that the blogger had passed away, many times I have no idea what happened.
So, who is this reader that has stuck with us for over 12 years? Let me start by telling you the top 5, all of whom are or were fellow bloggers. #5 is none other than the infamous Dino and Lisa who first started commenting in March of 2015. He has been enamored by my writing ever since and anxiously awaits our posts each week. He still blogs once in a while, but he has a hard time putting a coherent sentence together but once every month or two when he is sober enough to post one.
#4 goes to Steve and Dianne who started in January of 2015. These first two we met while we were on the road and started reading each other's blogs. They still blog consistently every few weeks about their adventures in Canada and abroad.
For the remaining 3, we read each other's blogs but not met. We have met each of them since them, but in some cases did not meet in person for years. #3 belongs to good friends Jim and Diana. We have been following each other's blogs since December of 2014 and have since met up numerous times over the years here in South Dakota, Michigan and Florida to name a few. In fact, the first time we met them is when they were passing through South Dakota and stopped to see us!
#2 is John and Pam, they have since stopped blogging but continue to read ours. We have been able to get together with a couple of times over the years and are a great couple. For those of you who know John and Pam, you understand that this first picture is the perfect picture of the four of us.
#1....drum roll..... is Debbie and Steve! We found each other's blogs in 2014, and I would venture to say we have commented on each other's blogs since then. In fact, I bet if Debbie were to look back, we are probably their most faithful commentors.
So many good friends, so many good memories. Hopefully decades more to come. Who are your longest commentors? How long have they been with you? We will stop blogging someday, Lord willing, by my own choice with a farewell post, but who knows....
Four more weeks!
Oh my goodness that puppy is so, so cute!! Interesting post, I started blogging in 2008 and have met many of the people who commented on the first blog and followed us to the second blog. John and Pam were always faithful and yes, that photo of the "boots and view" is very appropriate! We've even been "blog stalked" a couple of times--it's kind of disconcerting to have strangers walk up to you and say, "aren't you Janna, don't you write the TinTeePee Blog?" Did you get rain??
ReplyDeleteWe miss your blog as your activities (building, wildlife....) mirror our interests. We have never been recognized for ourselves, but people have come up to us and recognized our dogs!
DeleteWe have been getting a lot of rain. Our pond, which has been dry the past couple of years is 1/2 full and the frogs are a croaking!
Awesome!!! So glad you are finally getting rain! The reason I asked--we were to have traveled to the Hill City area on Father's day to ATV with friends who live in Rapid City. Friends from Minnesota were also joining us. The Rapid City friends called and said due to the forecast they didn't want us traveling that far to ride in the rain and potentially get stuck! So, we went to Boulder, Montana instead. We would have contacted you guys if we had made the trip.
DeleteShoot! We would have definitely driven up there to see you, or had you down here. It was a wet weekend for sure. Hopefully it works out next time!
DeleteMine was January 2011. I had 43 readers respond, most of whom I didn't know. Though I printed books for a couple of years (until they got too expensive), the comments never printed. That's sixteen years worth .... and I think I have more blogger friends now than in-person friends. Love the baby picture .....
ReplyDeleteYou have millions of views and comments! We are still hoping to print more books, we just have to find a service that is not going to cost an arm and a leg to print.
DeleteAh yes, we don't get a lot of response to our blog except for you guys and Dianne and Steve. I do know a lot of people do read it though as when I talk to them personally they comment on where and what we have been doing lol The blog is mainly for us as a travel and home journal so we don't argue as "short pencil ... long memory" lol.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, only a fraction of the readers actually comment. I wish some of our friends and family would just once in a while, so we know they are reading. More curiosity on my part, I guess.
DeleteJust a once in a while reply! God bless you two and thank you for all the wonderful memories!!!!
DeleteFlipping things around, I'm certain that you are counting the days for the new arrival.
ReplyDeleteLike yourselves, and many others, we started writing so our kids and friends could keep track of our travels. Bid surprise, they seldom do. Along the way we met other RV Bloggers like yourselves at La Posa South in Quartzsite and continue following along.
Our first Anonymous commenter mentioned how neat our post was, so I just kept trying to do better.
What I did notice back then was how Blogger kept track of the monthly readership. As time passed, I worried about losing that information, so I copied it down on a Spreadsheet that has evolved. I now know the readership of every month since we started. I also know the Top 3 Readership Days, Months and Years, more as something to do, because I have always loved playing with numbers.
Like you, we'll keep this going for as long as we can, before hopefully signing off.
Stay Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
I still remember the day we met you and Kathy down there! Great times and great memories! in Quartzsite.
DeleteYou’re right about family members not being very interested in our blogs. As for commenters, they have certainly rotated over the years (I’ve been blogging longer). Unless they stay for awhile, I barely remember some of them.
ReplyDeleteI will talk to our kids, and they will ask what we have been up to and act surprised when I tell them even though it was in last week's blog. I think they have been reading it more lately though.
DeleteMy daughter was my first commenter. Nov. 2007. She binge reads it when she has time.
DeleteI began when I moved to care for my parents. They both died, and I did it to focus myself.
I haven't had many consistent commenters until much later.
I think you have an interesting blog, I love seeing all the wildlife in your area!
DeleteI recall when we met in Florida you had said that you wrote a blog and that if I were to look at it several times a week and comment to inflate the numbers, that there was a cash prize. Or was that thing you sent me in the mail my prize?
ReplyDeleteYes, that is your prize. How was it put in Christmas Story? "A Major Award"? Keep on commenting, let's see if we can hit 20 years!
DeleteI started blogging in 2007 I went to blogger in September of 2008. On blogger my first Commenter Laurie was a writer from Minneapolis. She has written a couple of books now. She does not blog anymore. When I started on blogger I would search for blogs with Border Collies as we had one and were interested in other peoples experiences. Laurie had a couple of Border Collies. I have met Laurie at a book signing...and four other bloggers...none are blogging now and two have died. Sad to lose friends that had blogs that have died, over the years it happens a lot. I hope when the times comes I can write a final post:) It is fun to hear of the friends you have made! Oh gosh that pup gets cuter every time you show a photo!!
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool that you met Laurie a couple of times. I think we are about 50/50 of our friends that still blog compared to those that have quit.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI starting blogging in 2009, I would have to go back and look at my commenters.
I have met a few blogging friends over the years, not as many as you and Barb.
The puppies are adorable. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend!
Living in our RV fulltime and traveling, we bumped into many fellow bloggers who remain our friends today!
DeleteSo many memories (and laughs) in all those pictures. I still don't blog, don't plan to start after I retire, but I still enjoy reading about everyone's adventures.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear how the fur kids adpat to a new little sister. We'll be somewhere in Montana when you make the trip to/from Oregon to pick her up, let us know if our paths might cross.
Just a couple more days until you retire! Barb is flying out by herself to pick up Maisie. Enjoy your retirement, so excited for you!
DeleteOne of the surprises to me when I started blogging is that I would make life-long friends who I have never bet.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it crazy? You are happy for them when they are happy, sad for them when they are sad even though you have never met them you consider them a friend.
DeleteThis was interesting to me and sent me to mine to check things out. The first commenters have long since ended their blogging, but blogger Iris in Germany, whom I had never "met" online before, came in that first month -- December 2007!
ReplyDeleteDang, that is a good run, almost 20 years!
DeleteWe’ve been blogging since we hit the road on June 26, 2010 as a journal. Like you, other than some RV friends very few family or friends ever hit the like button or comment, but we know many do read it. Our top commenters in no particular order would be you, Deb Kyle, Debbie McCormack, Ruth and Dale, and Dave and Leslie. I shouldn’t be surprised by how many comments you always get as your blogs are usually quite comical and informative…but answering them all must be like writing another blog! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteIf I did not enjoy it, I would not do it. It is so interesting not only reading the comments, but reading and commenting on their posts in return. It brings me to places I would have never thought of!
Delete#1, yay! You wrote on ours 2/18/14. Lots of good times over the years offsite! I guess all that stalking paid off :-)
ReplyDeleteIt has been mutual stalking! I am trying to think of all the states we have met up; Arizona of course, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Alaska! Hopefully more in the future!
DeleteWell done to all for keeping in touch and bloggers can become family.
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging since 2007 0r 8 but deleted those post so 2009 shows on my blog list. Diane and Jo-Anne have been following me since and commenting and still do, so that is a long time, 17 years.
That is crazy, 17 years! Do Diane and Jo-Anne blog as well?
DeleteYes they do blog.
DeleteMy commenters have changed over the years. Some have died, sadly, while others have fallen by the wayside. Some have fallen away and then returned. Blogging's a funny world, but I do enjoy it. I love seeing how others live, and marvel at the inner strength of many in difficult circumstances.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to go back and read some of the comments from the first couple of years. Our commentors have changed as well, when I went to look up a couple of the old commentors I saw that many of their blogs ended years ago.
DeleteI remember pulling up to your place, having never met you, and thinking ‘I know these people’. That’s how it goes with bloggers. And having multiple bloggers help with construction of our homes…it just doesn’t get any better than that. The only bloggers we’ve yet to meet on your list are Dianne and Steve. We came within two weeks of each other up here in northern Michigan. They are on our bucket list. It boggles my mind how many different places we’ve seen the RV-Dreams folks…multiple states with several of them.
ReplyDeleteI remember you pulling into our place thinking, "I wonder if these people are serial killers". We had 6 RV friends/bloggers stop by and help us with the house; you, Guy and Sue, Steve and Deb, Richard Raab, Dave and Leslie, and of course Dino and Lisa, but he did not do any work.
DeleteThis is a clever post. I like how you picked your top 5, and that you've met them all. I started blogging in March of 2007, and it's been a great experience. Now blogging has changed and people seem to post less or have stopped posting. :( But it's still fun to find new blogs, like yours. And I bet those are going to be 4 long weeks. Have a super end of June and start to July.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if less people are blogging or just the people we know stopped or post less frequently. I do think vlogging has become more popular, but that is not our personality.
DeleteWe've had our s/v Dreamtime website since 2000, mainly to keep track of upgrades, new equipment, boat projects and travel and many of our cruising "family" did as well. Most of them stopped maintaining their sites after they stopped cruising. When we had to transition to Blogger in '21, I wondered if we would find a new "family". Guess what? we did! Hey Bro', thanks for commenting on my posts, and I agree with family rarely stopping by. You need to do a poll on the most number of comments - I know you would win it. I get intimidated when I read your post and there's already 50+ comments, and I figure you don't need anymore ego cookies, haha.
ReplyDeleteYou want to get intimidated, look at eileeninmd's blog, over 100 commandments each week!
DeleteGood morning guys! Sometimes, 4 weeks can seem like an eternity! Blogging friends from years ago have been and still are great friends today. We always enjoy seeing them!
ReplyDeleteAnd we consider you two among those friends!
DeleteIt's interesting to go back to the beginning of my blogging journey and revisit the names of people who used to comment regularly (and then dropped off the face of the earth).
ReplyDeleteOnly a handful of our first commenters are still with us today as well.
DeleteThis blog post hit home with me. It prompted me to look back at all my posts since inception in 2012 and had a ball remembering all the fun and not so fun experiences we've had on the road. You're right, I started it for family and friends to keep track of where we were but, with a few exceptions, it really was the rv community we've cultivated that commented most often. We've assembled quite a wonderful group of travelers (and now stationary friends) through these blogs. Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteIt was kinda melancholy like for me to go back and review those first posts. The excitement of the adventure and reliving those days.
DeleteMy biggest surprise in blogging is how little our family reads the blog.
ReplyDeleteSad, but true. Although I think 4 of my 5 siblings read regularly.
DeleteA lot of the people who used to blog and comment on my blog are no longer around. But some have been commenting for a long time. Blogs come and go sometimes with no notice.
ReplyDeleteYou wonder what happened to those that disappear with no notice or follow up.
DeleteThat's impressive that you can identify who has been reading you the longest! I had a peek back at part of the first year if my blog, and most posts had no comments at all! The earliest, though, was Nance, who no longer reads my blog but instead became a Facebook friend. I do know that Quinn has been reading mine since 2008, so she is probably my winner. Others read for a while, but stopped at some point, most transitioning to Facebook and other social media.
ReplyDeleteDo you know Nance or ever met her? We were close to meeting you that one time but that dang snow storm!
DeleteWow, those are some faithful followers! I've been blogging since about 2013 - I'm not exactly sure of the date. However, I'm had to leave my first blog behind when it was hijacked - long story that I won't get into. My current blog has been around since about 2018 and I have one or two readers who followed me from the first one.The one almost always comments, the other is more of an occasional drop-in.
ReplyDeleteWell that sucks. You have an interesting blog. I like seeing what it's like over there.
DeleteA lot of folks that followed or commented on my blog stuff were all equine related folks and now it is anyone and anybody. I spent years raising and training mules and hounds and then things changed to other interests.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy.
We had horses for many years, mostly doing game shows and trail riding in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Barb traveled further with her barrel racing after the kids left. We sold her last horse when we went on the road. We miss them, but don't miss them all at the same time.
DeleteI have only met a handful of blogger/commentors over the 20+ years I've been blogging but all have been great experiences. If I'm ever up in your neck of the woods, I would definitely stop by and harass you for an afternoon.
ReplyDeleteLet us know if you ever make it up this way, we could have a beer and chat for a while!
Deletethis got me thinking...fun thoughts!! i starting blogging in 2010 and my 2 boys and my husband were my only followers and comentors. still...i was thrilled and kept going. i don't think i thought much about followers, i just wanted to record my life events. my first real follower was theresa, "texwisgirl". she commented every day but no longer blogs. we still keep in touch. i was once recognized at a balloon festival by a follower, that read my blog every day. she did not have a blog and rarely commented. i have never had a planned encounter/visit with anyone!! i enjoyed seeing the pics of your friends...you guys are so friendly!!
ReplyDeleteI bet you were shocked when you were recognized at the balloon festival! We have several friends who no longer blog yet keep in touch, such a great group of people!
DeleteWe started blogging in 2010 after relocating from our native NJ to the VA eastern shore here we bought an old home. We knew few folks time and decided to explore "new to us" blogging to share our renovations and later gardening. We adopted aliases of Beatrice & Grenville Boyd (after Boyds bear figurines). Although we had few comments, we plugged on and for the first few years blogged more often than days in the year. We've had fellow bloggers come and go in 16 years, but several have remained constant among them: John (AC), Sandra (MapSnapper), Denise (An English Girl...), Michelle (Small Town Life). Lois (From Lois' Hands), Emma (Leaves on My Tree). There have been others who have sadly passed away or stopped blogging, but their blogs remain, and others who stop in sporadically. Like others have commented, we never receive comments from family and/or close friends. We have been fortunate to meet several fellow bloggers over the years, including Christina (A Colorful Life) in Scotland and Denise in VA, Carol in NYC, and several others..
ReplyDeleteOur blogging has changed as we no longer blog about home projects and gardening as we're now apt dwellers in NH. Grenville (Patrick) has other interests, ham radio and emergency services. He still contributes ideas, but I (Dorothy) am the primary blogger and the blog now focuses on travels, road trips and living in New England.
What an interesting summary of your blogging life. We share several of your longtime commentors, good people with interesting blogs themselves!
DeleteThank you for the laughs 🤣
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. The first comment on my blog, I didn’t answer right away. I stared at it like it was an alien ship that landed in my back yard. 🤣
May
That is funny, are they still with you or have they returned to their home planet in a distant galaxy?
DeleteIn your case, I totally understand why you have so many faithful commenters. Your content is interesting. Many of us at a "certain" age, relate to your life of work, family and relaxation. (Okay, granted, that road trip thing may not really be "relaxation" but those who haven't actually done it don't know that, and I won't tell 'em.)
ReplyDeleteIn my case, I don't recall why I started a blog and was (and still am) totally amazed that anyone would read the thing. If it stops being fun, I reckon I'll find something else to do.
In the meantime, keep on writing and your fans will keep on reading!
Traveling is 70% relaxing, 30% stress. Sometimes that is flip flopped, but with the truck camper it is pretty relaxing.
DeleteThat is incredible how you have managed to turn readers into friends.
ReplyDeleteIt came naturally in the RV community as we are always travelling and eventually were near each other at some point.
DeleteI love how you went back through the years to see who’s been with you the longest.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a reminder that blogging isn’t just about writing--it’s about building friendships that last.
Your list brought back so many memories, and it makes me grateful for the community we’ve all found here.
It is a great community for sure! Even though we have not met most of them, we consider them friends.
DeleteWonderful that you are able to have long term blogging friends and meet them!
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun, there are a lot of great people out there!
DeleteThe blogosphere is simply wonderful—connections and vibes spanning the entire globe. And the best part is being able to forge friendships and, above all, meet in person. It is wonderful to read about the great meet-ups you all organize and how you help one another... that is the true beauty of life.
ReplyDeleteI’ve had two blogging friends since the very beginning; I even worked on a joint knitting project with one of them, and we’ve had some fantastic visits, too. I originally started my blog in Norwegian to practice the language :-))
Now I’m learning English :-)))
Warm regards from me... I really enjoy reading about your experiences; they are so different from my own, which makes it truly exciting for me.
Sending you all my very best wishes,
Viola
That is one reason I like to read yours as well. Your experiences, wildlife and scenery are so different than mine. I doubt I will ever get over there so it is nice seeing it through your eyes.
DeleteI started blogging in either 08 or 09, will have to check. Being I just did not have the time to really get into blogging, I did not start drawing folks over to comment until some point after I retired. Problem is, I am surprised that I don't lose all I have now since I don't often come around to reply to a blog. In my head for some reason I like typing out a story instead of replying to someone else's story. But going back like that is a cool idea. Off hand, I can think of at least two post I made that was funny, might need to go back to them and repost....but since I was new into blogging, they might need a complete redo.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes struggle to reply as well, especially when we are on the road and internet service is limited.
DeleteThe commonalities are fascinating :-) Debbie McCormack was my first commentor and we've followed each other ever since (before Bill and I went on the road). We've met in person all of the people on my blog roll except for RV Sue (she hasn't blogged in years but her blog is still on the roll like several folks). We've met up with many of them more than once, in more than one place - Jim and Diana in seven different states! I mark many of them among my dearest friends. I was always hesitant to add more blogs to my long list I was reading but Jim B insisted I pull up your blog and give it a read. So then it went on the blog roll of course, and not long after we got to meet you and Barb in Tucson - good stuff :-))))
ReplyDeleteRV Sue and her Canine Crew! We used to read her blog all the time. Jim and Diana are good people, I am glad that we finally got to meet up with you guys as well!
DeleteWell, now you've got me curious! I don't pay much attention to my stats, but going to take a look. Thanks for the idea and a great post!
ReplyDeleteI just came to me one day, I was curious and looked. It turned out to be an interesting exercise!
Delete