A Milestone…

March 7, 2010

“Stick-to-it-iveness”

This post also has absolutely nothing to do with real estate….or San Carlos.  But it is the 500th article on the White Oaks Blog.   My hands hurt just thinking about that number.  When I started this site in the fall of 2007, I couldn't fathom finding the material (or the initiative) to write 5 articles, let alone 500.   But the odometer that keeps track of site data has been slowly clicking away, and after 500 posts, 1,349 comments, and probably about 300,000 words (I'm just guessing on this last one, but I'm probably not too far off ), here we are.   That's a lot of ….whatever you want to call it.

What does this mean?  I don't know… I guess if you stick to something long enough…well,  you get stuck to it.   It also means that if I get an early onset of arthritis, I'll know exactly why.

A Long, Interesting Journey.

Far more interesting than the numbers, is the path this site has taken over the past two or so years.  What started out as a place to post real estate data slowly evolved into a community bulletin board of sorts — it didn't take long to figure out that while people in San Carlos are certainly interested in real estate, they're absolutely passionate about the issues that pertain to their neighborhoods, their schools, and their city.   This is a good thing!  And with all that has been happening in San Carlos over the past 3 years, both good and bad, there has been no shortage of things to write about.

This site has opened doors and has taken me places I would never have imagined going, like landing this impromptu 30-second gig on KCBS radio.  That was definitely a trip!

But the biggest surprise to me about this site, and the aspect I treasure most, is the personal connections that it has created for me.   I have made friends with many great people through the site that I probably wouldn't have met otherwise — residents, City Council members, police officers, fellow bloggers…all different people, but all who share a common desire to make San Carlos a great place to live.

It has been an interesting journey, that's for sure.

Thank YOU.

The bottom line is that this site would have never survived this long had it not been for the following and support of the readers.  You've graciously tolerated three different background changes to the site (now I know why people got so angry with Facebook!),  countless technical glitches, and hopefully a steady improvement in the quality of the writing.

The path this site has taken is a direct result of your feedback, through comments and emails.   Blogging is probably akin doing a radio show — you're really pushing words into the abyss without having any idea if anyone is reading, or what they're thinking about it.    So I'm truly thankful for those of you who have taken the time to read the site and comment on what's written.  That feedback shapes the direction of the site more than anything else.

What's Next?

There are lots of important topics to cover in the weeks and months ahead.   The budget crisis will continue to provide tons of food for discussion.  And I have great ideas for the new “Spotlight on San Carlos” interview series that should make it really fun (and save my fingers from all of that typing.)   I've even worked a deal with the Museum of San Carlos History, where they'll allow me to post some historical photos of San Carlos in a weekly series.  Stay tuned for that in the coming weeks.

Will there be a 1,000th post on the White Oaks Blog?   I don't know.   There's a part of me that believes blogs will become the dinosaurs of social media in the not-too-distant future,  only to be replaced by “the next big thing”, whatever that may be.

But until that day comes, I'll just keep keep typing away…

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3 Comments

  1. Arn Cenedella on March 9, 2010 at 2:49 am

    Hi Chuck:

    Even though we often do not agree on community issues, you do a fabulous job on your blog – both from a local real estate perspective and from a San Carlos community perspective.

    I read pretty much every post you write (your blog and Bob Bredel’s blog is a major source of community information for me) and I enjoy commenting on your posts – knowing full well many of my positions on San Carlos issues may not agree with yours and those of your many readers.

    I have a blog of my own (in its infancy compared to yours – I think maybe I am at 200 posts) and I know how much time it takes to keep putting forth new and interesting content.

    Congrats to you for an excellent and interesting blog!

    Arn



  2. Chuck Gillooley on March 9, 2010 at 3:23 am

    Arn,

    Thanks for your comment, and for the kind words about the blog. One area that I will kindly disagree with you on — you and I don’t really differ on community issues, mostly because you may notice that I rarely interject my views into the posts I write. I tend to practice what I refer to as “jump-ball journalism” which means I toss the ball (topic) straight up and let the readers decide what they feel about the facts, and then voice their opinions accordingly. With only a handful of exceptions, I think I have kept my opinion out of most of the blog. At least that has been my intent all along 😉

    Good luck with your blog as well.

    Chuck



  3. Arn Cenedella on March 9, 2010 at 4:23 am

    Chuck

    You are right – you do present the issues and throw it out there for discussion.

    For example, on your recent posts on the financial issues facing the San Carlos School District you posted both the Board’s position and the Union position with no personal comment.

    Arn



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