A year ago this week I decided to start blogging about my retirement experience. With the help of a Royal Elf, I chose WordPress for my hosting site and within a couple of hours I was ready to launch. The biggest obstacle I encountered was what to name the blog. After searching domain names and finding every one of my choices already taken, I named it the obvious…kathysretirementblog. My first post was made on November 29, 2012. Just a photo of myself on the suspended bridge across Grandfather Mountain near Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It was titled “Swinging in the Wind”, a reference to how I felt about the transition into retired life. During this last year as I chronicled my transition in 61 additional posts, you, my readers, have given me nearly 10,000 views and, best of all, numerous comments and personal emails about how my posts inspired, provoked thought or just plain entertained.

As the site and my following has continued to grow, I have been asked to guest post on a couple of other sites. Last night I received an email from Simone at retirementandgoodliving.com saying, “I just wanted to let you know that your guest post (http://retirementandgoodliving.com/retirement-stages/) on our site has been one of the most read posts on the site since it was published.” I cannot express how gratifying it is to be writing stories that are being read and effect others lives in a positive way. You are from all walks of life, young and old, retired and not retired. Reaching such a diverse group has been another pleasant surprise.

It is with heart-felt gratitude that I thank each and every one of you from my loyal followers to those of you who check in on occasion to catch up to those of you who have only recently discovered kathysretirementblog. I hope I can continue to earn your support and inspire you to seek your own retirement dream.

With gratitude – Kathy Merlino