Resend from the correct account so it doesn't get filtered. Sorry about any possible confusion if it does!
Begin forwarded message:
From: Jim Hunkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sun Aug 3, 2003 2:02:53 PM US/Pacific To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Geoff's departure
Geoff,
I wanted to thank you very much for taking the time and energy to explain why you are planning to depart our community in the near future. While I too am very sorry to see you leave us, I also understand that there are reasons. Reading through your comments, I find myself agreeing with most of yours.
I personally have thought about leaving the community periodically over the past 5 years. As those who know me and those watching the work on QDT come and go in short stuttering stretches, time and frustration are the two biggest factors that would normally play into my decisions to stay or go.
Personally my work life is so intense and time consuming that it is nearly impossible to find the time I need to work on my QL related projects. This last year I was unable to attend the US show for this very reason, which was one of my biggest disappointments of all because this is a primary reason why I am still around - my many friends and wonderful experiences.
Frustration is also a big one. Fortunately, I have been lucky to work with our few active members over here, attend the very well planned out US show on a regular basis, communicate with my friends from around the world on a regular basis and occasionally get to hang out with them. I have been able to avoid the frustration side of things but run into it now and then due to lack of documentation, code errors, etc (and yes, I am now working on getting a copy of the SMSQ/E sources - can't wait!!!). Reading your comments and watching the discussions on this news list and hearing from some of my friends, if I was in their position I don't know if I would have stuck around myself.
And I see everyone's comments on the 'cost' (notice that I didn't say profit) of doing business in the QL scene, for most people it hasn't and won't every become a profitable business. But that isn't why most of us are here. For myself, I could very easy drop all this and tackle some projects that I want to do for my Mac OS X systems which have the potential of being decent money makers. And I could use new modern tools, new hardware and software technologies, etc. But I have this commitment to friends and the community, and a personal challenge to myself that I intend to finish. Not to mention, when I do get time for QDT, it is just plain fun watching the pieces come together (between the frustration of not finding time).
As for the future, I personally will stick around for a while yet. I am once again trying to find time to get QDT back on track so that I can ship it and start working on some of the fun add-on modules [my work project is moving into ramp finally after two+ years of non-stop heavy, heavy development time]. I also am seriously thinking about hopping the ocean for the QL 2004 show everyone is talking about.
Geoff, as I said at the start of this, I am sorry to see your plans for departure. I along with everyone else I know has totally appreciated everything you have done for and with the QL community. But we all have to make this kind of decision at some time or other.
For myself, while I have seriously thought of it, my departure won't be for some time yet. I intend to continue having fun both hacking away with my SMSQ/E and giving to and getting jibes from my many friends!
My best to you with your future plans. Hopefully we will occasionally see you around if nothing else, just for a quick hello and how your doing.
Cheers and my best wishes, jim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jim Hunkins JDH Software Technologies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
