You know something? Blogging is a strange existence. I’m not nearly as connected to many of the other PF blogs out there as some are but I still feel a bit of camaraderie or connection to many of them. My blog is far less about the numbers than it is about the emotional existence in a world where money makes pretty damn much everything go round. One of my dreams is to pull the top 100 PF Bloggers together for some sort of convention. Not really to learn much, but to finally meet many of them and just see who has been typing out all those words. On one hand I feel almost like a stalker as I feel that tiny bit of excitement to see that Madame X has updated her blog, or that Neville has updated his. Then there is Jonathon. While my attention span struggles to keep on task as I read a lot of his informative posts (he’s ten fold smarter than I am), I still enjoy seeing what’s up with him and I can’t wait to read that he’s finally bought a house.
I’ve long enjoyed reading NCN’s blog. He’s really been an inspiration to me in general. I haven’t had to overcome the debt that he has, but just seeing his commitment to bettering his situation for himself and his family has been outstanding to see.
I also really enjoy SavvySaver’s blog. She’s doing such a great job of living below her means and owning her money as opposed to her money owning her. She’s got a rental (I think it’s a 4 plex) and is just my kind of person. I actually found myself smiling when I read that she had her baby and both were healthy. I still remember what an incredible joy it was when we had our daughter over 4 years ago and I thought to myself how she and her husband were probably feeling just as happy as my wife and I did when we had our daughter.
Then there is Flexo. He’s pretty much an online machine. Between his PF blog and pfblogs.org, I know he’s pretty busy. He’s done a great job of being one of the few people that make up the core of the PF blog community.
Oh, and where the hell did JD come from? A couple years ago, I hadn’t even heard of him and now he must have more readers than any other PF blog out there. Obviously that has to do with the quality of his posts and the sheer amount of information he puts on his blog. I check my reader daily and it still seems like I’m playing catch up with all of his posts.
These few sites are only a tiny chunk of the PF sites that I have in my Google reader. It’s been a great couple years and I’ve really enjoyed reading so much about personal finance from the blogs above and all the others in my reader. As I sit here on a Friday night, I realize it’s great to be a tiny part of something much bigger than me.
Now, if you’ll pardon me, I’m going to go stalk all the other PF blogs out there (oh and maybe I’ll hit perezhilton.com too. But please don’t tell anyone. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit I’ve even heard of Perez. He’s kind of like crack.)
Madame X says
I know what you mean! I never leave enough comments but it’s always interesting to follow the lives of people I’ve gotten to “know” through blogging. I’m stalking you too!
Jonathan says
I know, here I am still stretching out that home purchase decision while I watch you finishing up your very own vacation Lake House ;)
Cap says
Ah. Stalking. It’s what we all do. Like others before me, I don’t leave comments enough, and also have trouble keeping up w/ post and feeds. But it still feels like a community, no matter how involved some people are or aren’t.
A “big” meet up one of these days with many in the pf blogsphere would be a treat. First one to hit $10 million (or whatever) hosts.
Amy says
I know what you mean. I check everyone’s blog every other day or so to see what’s happening. I have learned so much through reading PF blogs and I do feel like I know the bloggers.
NCN says
Hazzard! Wow, thanks for the mention…
And, I too feel a bit stalker-ish…
But, it’s fun to see others progress along the path!
Add my vote to a pf blogger meet-up!
NCN
Aaron Stroud says
Hazzard, the early days of blogging is reminiscent of the bulletin board (BBS) days. The communities were small and everyone (who wanted to) knew each other.
Now the blogosphere is much like the transition to the ‘net from BBSes. We’ve gone from small, mostly-isolated communities to this huge free-for-all. It’s all very exciting, but I can’t help but miss the “good ‘ole days” at times.