A personal post

Profile picture for user Floydm
Floydm on 23 Mar 2012 at 13:17

Two bits of personal info to share with the community.

* * *

The first is that this summer my family and I are moving to Vancouver, BC.

As some recall, we spent last summer in Vancouver. Dorota and I fell in love with the city. I was born in Montreal, making my kids and I dual US/Canadian citizens, but I haven't lived in Canada since I was wee. I've always thought about it — though I grew up in California, I took hockey lessons in grade school and studied French rather than Spanish in high school — but it never seemed like the right time.

After this summer we decided that if this is something we want to do we need to just do it, so we began the immigration process last fall. We've now cleared enough of those hurdles that we are preparing to relocate there soon. We are super excited about it, though quite nervous, since it is still unclear precisely where we'll live, where and how much work I'll find, where my kids will go to school, pretty much everything about what our new life will look like. We have leads for some of these, but still this is a big step into the unknown for us. Wish us luck!

* * *

The second bit is that recently I was approached by a suitor wanting to buy The Fresh Loaf. This happens from time-to-time, but this was the most credible, substantial offer I've received. After much thought and many conversations, I turned the offer down.

The suitor currently owns a number of other websites and online forums. They purchase web properties with high Google PageRank and good growth potential, both in terms of traffic and advertising revenue. "Online value investing" is the way I think of it. TFL is a good candidate for that kind of portfolio.

I declined the offer because I wasn't convinced that this company's management would continue to prioritize the well-being of the community. Mind you, I don't believe they would intentionally do it harm - among other things, they offered to include in the contract the hiring of a professional moderation service (I didn't know such a thing existed either) to help keep things civil here. But I wasn't sufficiently convinced that their approach to site management would foster a thriving community. Increasing the amount of anonymous traffic and ad views here is clearly the easiest way to monetize the site and there is plenty of good content on the site already to sustain traffic growth for many years, even if the community disappeared tomorrow. The financial incentives to maximize the one type of traffic at the expense of the other are high and seem nearly irresistable to anyone not passionate about the community side of this site.

So I let the opportunity pass. That was hard, given the uncertainty of our near future. Vancouver is one of the least affordable cities in North America — if not the world — and we are not wealthy. I work for non-profits, rewarding work but not terribly lucrative. That money would certainly have made our transition to Vancouver easier. But still I think I made the right decision.

Maybe it is just my ego, but I feel like there is more to this site than what's captured in the traffic stats.  It isn't just another website or message board,  it is different: it's a tight-knit community, a community of folks who share a passion and try to treat each other with support, courtesy, and respect whether they are baking newbies, serious amateurs, or professionals and regardless of age or country of origin. That makes it really special to me and, I think, a lot of other folks too.  I don't want to see that get messed up.

* * *

Through this period I've reflected a lot about the future of TFL, what TFL means to me and what I mean to the community, and what would be be best for both my family and for the TFL community.

Without question, I am an imperfect manager of this site. I am not a terribly advanced baker, and I personally don't have the capacity or capital to put as much energy into improving this site as I think it deserves. There is a lot of cool stuff that could be done here, things like making the site easier to use on mobile devices and better integrated with social and multimedia, and that is just on the technical side. There are tons of cool things, editorial and content-wise, that could be done here. Or I could imagine getting more involved helping organize community get-togethers like Lumos did recently. The possibilities seem endless.

Amazingly, despite my recent negligence due to all of my other commitments (two jobs, two kids, the immigration process), site traffic continues to grow.

My plan is to chip away at some of these projects this summer, after my family's transition to Vancouver. Let me rephrase that: my hope is to chip away at some of these projects this summer. I can't offer a plan or a promise until my family is well-situated and provided for in our new home.  But, that said, if you or someone you know is looking for an interesting business opportunity and has the time, energy, interest, and capital to do it right, by all means, get in touch with me. Were the conditions right, I would not be adverse to passing on the baton to another individual or company. You wouldn't need to convince me that you'd steward the site exactly as I have, only that you'd continue to keep the well-being of the community foremost in your mind as you carried on.

-Floyd

Best of luck with your move Floyd.  I'm not sure I'd have the guts to do it.  I think I'm a bit risk adverse by nature.  My boss is from Vancouver and he sure paints is a wonderful place...

As for the TFL, I'm glad you make the decision you did.  I know a firm would have more resources to chip away at your TODO list, but it would most likely be done to maximize profit and would not provide the same TLC that you provide.

I agree that the group here is tight knit but I also think they are patient.  I don't believe the TFL has become what it has by being the most advanced forum software / experience.  It's become what it has by the quality of people that are part of this community.  So take your time....we'll be here.

Frosty

I haven't posted here in awhile.  Baking and my hours don't leave me with much time.  But I'm constantly visiting, lurking, and most of all - poaching on the ton of information that's contained here.

You have built a beautiful thing, and managed to to manage it in such a way that it flourishes.  You need not apologize for anything IMHO.  This is the go-to bread and baking site in my life and in my experience.

If the right person does approach you - and I hope this happens - and makes you an offer you shouldn't resist, I hope you'll take it and the remuneration which you so richly deserve.

You may have set out to create a website about baking and bread, but you ended up creating a community.  Not bad at all Floyd!

I hope you feel the pride and sense of accomplishment you deserve to.

Best in all things - especially Vancouver!

Larry

Profile picture for user Janetcook

Janetcook on 23 Mar 2012 at 14:47

Hi FLoyd,

I consider myself a newcomer to TFL so my comments reflect that.

I have been more than pleased with what you have created here.  I do not expect the 'latest' in anything....I've lived through that and , in many instances, I have found that it isn't all that it is cracked up to be :-)

What attracted me to this forum in the first place was the 'feel' of it.  I was hooked once I discovered how to navigate using the search box and now I am one of what Khalid(mebake) has named as 'suffering' from 'CBS' aka 'compulsive baking syndrome'.

Words really fail me in my attempt to express the many ways in which this forum has/does enriched my life.  I find absolutely no complaint in how you have 'run' it all of these years.  There is sooo much here besides good bread!  There is community.  There is bread.  There is history.  There is science.  There is geography.....I could go on but I think you get my point....YOU have created something unique and huge that is world wide through you hard efforts and passion - the giving of yourself to those of us here....

So I say - Job Well Done! and thanks for using your descression as to whom you will eventually pass the baton.  I understand the desire and need to move on and I understand the caution in letting go.....doesn't get any easier :-)

Your move sounds very exciting for all of you.  I went to boarding school in Vancouver as a teen and the city is a lovely one despite the fact that I didn't like to boarding school..... The people are lovely, the wilderness that surrounds Vancouver is extraordinary as you well know, and I am sure all of the pieces will fall into place once you jump off of the cliff get going.

No complaints from this member....just lots of appreciation and gratitude and well wishes for you and your family!

Take Care,

Janet

 

Thanks, Janet!

Yes, the closeness to the beach and wilderness is one of the things we loved about Vancouver.  Truly an amazing city!

-Floyd

Floyd,

Good luck with the move to Vancouver and as for the TFL site......your intent and gracious generosity of spirit are beyond commendable.  This is the only internet site to which I devote any time.  This is primarily due to the wonderful nature of the site and its people as maintained and directed by you.  Should it pass from your hands, maintaining the standard that you have set will be difficult, but of course not impossible.

Jeff

you make Floyd.    It is your creation that has grown into something no one, even you, could imagine but it is still - all yours.  I'm glad there are decent offers out there and you would be worried if there were none.   You will do what is best for you and us - of that I am sure.   Enjoy Vancouver and make it home for you and your family.

After reading the comments, I can't think of anything original to add. You are such an integral part of this community, it is difficult to imagine it without your leadership and guidance! I have the sense that the non-profits benefit greatly from your hard work too. There is a whole new group of people waiting to become part of your lives as your family settles into a new life.  They are the lucky ones. Hope you will continue to be excited about the lovely city of Vancouver, and will find it to be just what you want it to be.

While I wish you and yours all the best in your next adventure in life, I fully support your decision *not* to sell this site.

[quote]Maybe it is just my ego, but I feel like there is more to this site than what's captured in the traffic stats.  It isn't just another website or message board,  it is different: it's a tight-knit community, a community of folks who share a passion and try to treat each other with support, courtesy, and respect whether they are baking newbies, serious amateurs, or professionals and regardless of age or country of origin. That makes it really special to me and, I think, a lot of other folks too.  I don't want to see that get messed up.[/quote]

I agree entirely with your statement (in the above quote). You have achieved and maintained these goals for all of us and we are indebted to you. The growing popularity of TFL over the years is a testimony to your vision and effort.

I hope you and yours will continue to develop, maintain and curate this site. It is *your* vision that has made TFL invaluable. Without you, I fear for it's future.

 

There are other folks or companies that could do right by everyone here AND devote more love and attention to making improvements than I've been able to do, I'm sure.  But until I'm confident I've found someone like that, I'll keep doing my best and continue to beg your forgiveness for the slow pace of change.

-F

Floyd,

Good luck to you and your family on your new move.  I have only been on this site a short time, but I find it to be more than just a web site but as others here have said we all feel a sense of belonging to a community.  I look forward to reading new posts and interacting with my fellow bread heads on a daily basis and for that I thank you for creating such a great place to visit.  I'm sure eventually somebody will come along with the right offer and you will get the reward you deserve, but if not, I'm sure you can look into developing the site so you don't lose the sense of community we have but also you can maximize your revenue potential.  If you haven't already you should post a forum for ideas on how to possibly generate some additional revenue from this site.  I'm sure many of us can offer you some creative ways to generate additional funds that you deserve.

Regards,

Ian

Thanks, Ian.

It isn't enough to support my family on, but the site does a fine job now, IMO, of generating enough revenue to compensate me for the time and energy I put in... and I've tried to keep the advertising at a not too intrustive level.  But should there be a need or desire to change that mixture or fund a more sustained period of development, I would definitely loop in the folks here, as you suggest.

-Floyd

Floyd,   I think it's wonderful that you and your family are making this move and I wish you all the best with it.   I want to add my gratitude for this site to the chorus.  This site creates so much value, and I am thankful that you didn't sell to someone who you felt wouldn't preserve that value.   As others have said, I came for bread, but have gained in so many other ways.    -Varda

 "And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want...  Everything else is secondary."

After reading your comments, Floyd, I couldn't help but think of those words by Steve Jobs.   I think you and Dorota and the kids will find many wonderful and exciting opportunities behind those doors you're about to open, and wish you all only the very best.   Follow your heart.

As to TFL, well, I think it's a pretty terrific place as it is.  Who needs integration with FB or other doodads when the site already is the social media for bakers?  You've done an awesome job over the years and if an opportunity acceptable to you arises which will reward you for all your work, take it!

Lindy

Everyone's already said what  I wanted to say, so I won't repeat it, but a word can't express how grateful I am for everything you've done to create this amazing community and things you're still doing daily for us to maintain it.  You don't post so much yourself, but I feel very safe being here because I know you're always there whenever we need help and you always deal with any problem very sensibly and with right sensitivity.  (.....and really sorry for numerous helps I asked you during the organization of UK get-together! :p) 

So whatever the decision you may make for the future of this forum and for yourself, I believe that'd be the right one for this community and for yourself.  I trust you.

And good luck with your and your family's new future in Vancouver.  Never been there myself, but my nephew-in-law who now lives in UK is originally from Vancouver where my niece met him some years ago. Have heard it's a truly wonderful place. 

Thank you, Lumos.

In order to support our case to Canadian immigration that we really do intend to live in Canada and that Dorota should be allowed to come too, since September I've been working around half time for a non-profit there while remaining close to full time at the non-profit I work for here.  As you can imagine, this has severely curtailed the time I have to bake, and thus to post.  I really hope that after relocating I'll be able to reclaim a better work/life balance that includes more baking and participation here, but we'll just have to see.

-Floyd

 

 

you make me happy and melancholy, all at the same time!  What you have created here is remarkable: a genuine community of bread enthusiasts who have become fast friends even though most have never met face to face.  While I would exaggerate if I said that TFL was a lifeline for me during my time in ZA, it is no exaggeration at all to say that it was a portable piece of home when I was very far from home.  I'm sure that Mini and some others who have moved about have similar feelings.

May you and your family enjoy your new situation in Vancouver.  It is bound to be enriching in ways that can't be measured monetarily.  Although, I think Ian may be onto something with his suggestion.  Just tell Dorota that you wouldn't be threatened by her getting a job that brings in a bigger pay-check than you've been getting, then turn your full energy to ramping up TFL to whatever potential you see in it.  (Said with tongue only partly in cheek!)

Thank you for what you have done so far.  Thank you for the improvement that I have been able to make in my baking over the past several years.  Thank you for whatever comes next.

Paul

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dmsnyder on 23 Mar 2012 at 18:09

Very best wishes for an easy move and hoping you find your new life in BC everything you hope it will be!

I appreciate your decision to keep ownership of TFL. Your integrety and your vision are a big part of the site's success. You have managed to maintain a welcoming and civil culture for bakers at all levels of skill and experience. That's no small accomplishment these days. I think the personal values you exeplify set the tone and model for our community's interpersonal behavior. It's inconceivable to me that any corporate entity could do the same.

I have to wonder whether there are members who have the skills to help implement some of the features you have envisioned and the time to devote to it. I wish I did. 

Thanks for sharing your plans and your reflections. I'm very happy that TFL will remain yours.

Warmest regards to you and Dorota,

David

Thank you, David.  

Your participation, too, continues to be tremendously influential in setting the tone here.  Thank you for that as well.

I have to wonder whether there are members who have the skills to help implement some of the features you have envisioned and the time to devote to it.

I've wondered about that too.  Or whether there could be an arrangement where the TFL community "hired" me for a period of time to do their bidding at well below market rates but enough to make ends meet. As a Drupal Developer, it isn't the know-how I lack, it's the time.

Something to think about.

-Floyd

Floyd,

Your leadership has made this a dynamic community. It is interesting that you say you're not a "terribly advanced baker" because what makes this online community so great is that a person's skills really don't matter. The people with more experience have contributed their expertise, people with modest skills learn from people who have more and less experience. Those with less experience help those with more experience think through and articulate how the process of bread-making specifically works.

And it's not just about skill. There is inspiration all over this site: stencils, proofers, oven-building, sharing sourdough culture. It's always enjoyable to be here.

So in my opinion the site doesn't have to be bigger or flashier or anything. It works pretty great. There's always room for improvement in work and life but like baking sometimes the more you mess with it, the more it gets messed up. It can grow naturally.

Thank you for not selling the site, especially when you can't yet see where your personal road leads. But as that proverb goes:

"If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking."

It would seem you're standing in the right direction, but if you need help seeing more clearly it appears you have a community of bakers who will shine a light for you if you need it.

-Arlene

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hanseata on 23 Mar 2012 at 18:25

I'm sure you made the right decision - big step as it is. I never regretted following my heart and moving from Germany to Maine.

We visited Vancouver a few years ago, and loved it. My son had studied computer animation there, and was sorry that he couldn't stay any longer.

I do appreciate the great job you are doing with TFL, and can imagine how much time and effort goes into it. I'm glad that this is run by a person and not a corporation, better some quirks and glitches, than a smooth, professionally run operation that looks only at the bottom line.

For me TFL is in some ways a substitute for the missing interaction with my friends in Germany (who mostly shy away from social media).

Good luck and best wishes!

Karin

Is that Vancouver City that you will be moving to Floyd? I spent an amazing three weeks with an old school friend of mine and his family just outside of Duncan on Vancouver Island back in the late nineties.  It truly is a beautiful place with so much to do.  We spent a day in Vancouver City en route to Whistler. It was the middle of winter (January) so it was freezing (well for me anyway) but it struck me as a very well laid out city and pretty, too.  Anyway, I am sure you are going to love it there.  New environment, new challenges, new adventures: exciting times for the whole family.

With regards to the future of TFL: I would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't pleased that you didn't sell it. I really like it just as it is.    About all that other cool stuff that you mention could be possible if it were in the hands of someone who had more time:  well, it's not really that important to me.  I like the down-to-earth feel of this place, the civility and the genuine helpfulness of the community, but most of all I like the fact that it is an absolute treasure trove of information and a huge inspiration to me in my baking.  No amount of bells and whistles would change that.  

Having said that, if at some stage you feel the time has come to move on or to make some big changes here at TFL ,then I know everyone at TFL would support your decision. :)

Thanks for this great website Floyd and I wish you and your family all the best for the future.

Syd

Floyd,

You are very fortunate to be going to Vancouver.  I have had the opportunity to visit friends there a number of times and the city is truly wonderful.

I share the feelings that many people have already expressed about the community that you have created on TFL.  Although I am fairly new here, the site exudes good vibes.  In the truest sense of community, members here share their experiences for the benefit of all, and it is one of the few sites that I make extra effort to read daily.  I personally have learned so much from everyone on TFL, I can only hope to give back even a portion.  To have created it takes a great deal of vision and we are the beneficiaries.  In these days of commercialization on the web, it takes a lot of courage to turn down an offer to purchase a living and active site, and I have to admire your decision to keep it private.  Best of luck to you.

-Brad

 

with your move, Floyd.  The TFL, where my first and only 'real' blog calls home, will always have a special place in my heart, regardless of what your decision would be about its future.  Thank you for offering this nesting ground to the budding bakers to meet up with the experienced.  It's an unforgettable learning experience that will last a life time. 

 

Yippee 

What ever you choose to do, Floyd, i'am sure your virtual community, myself included, will agree. As many said, your efforts and passion behind TFL makes this site one of the most popular sites for both amateurs, and Pros. Therefore, i'am happy that you chose to reatin the ownership of this site.

As to the move to Vancouvre, I wish you and yours the best of luck, and may you all be happy and content, wherever you land!

Best of Wishes from Dubai!

I'm very new here but immediately recognized the site as a very special community. I now happily spend way too much time on the Baker Blogs. There's a technical glitch every now and then but I breeze right past it because I'm so eager to get to the great content. You have facilitated that maybe more than you know by providing... well, I'm not going to get into analogies to a lively starter, etc but that's the idea, great raw ingredients that just sit there until the right influence makes them come to life.

I don't know who your suitor was but I immediately thought of the folks that bought Chowhound. They've made some improvements but also have been stripping away some of the backwater areas of the site that might not have been making them money but were beloved by the community. That's what happens when everything is fed through an economic filter. Thank you for saving us from that and I hope the site will continue to evolve to your expectations while keeping its soul intact.

Otis

Hi Floyd

Thanks for letting us know what is happening with you and your family, as well as TFL.

We have visited Vancouver on 3 occasions and it is one of our most favourite cities on earth (along with Victoria - just a short ferry ride away).  It is a beautiful area and the natives are very friendly!  I wish you all the very best with your move, it is something that we were looking at very seriously but that idea hit the buffers when I suffered a stroke :( .  I do hope that everything goes well for you.

Coming on to TFL, you have created a lovely online community where respect and helpfulness are the dominant characteristics of the participants.  I have learned an amazing amount since I joined the forum and it has become a significant part of my life.  I have also made many friends, both electronically and in person, with people such as ananda, lumos, Daisy_A and Bertie26 to name but 4.  It really is a special place on the internet and your (and Dorota's) time and effort are very much appreciated.  I am sure that the forum is a lucrative target for internet companies and you have my respect (and, I'm sure) the respect of many TFL users that you have chosen to keep faith with the principles that you have run TFL with for the outset, rather than taking the money from whoever offers the most.  This is particularly commendable at a time of such change for your family.

Thank you for TFL and I wish you and your family all the very best in your move to Vancouver, please let us know how things go.

Richard

Hello Floyd,

I wish you and your family all the best in your new adventure, moving to Vancouver.   I remember your post when you first visited the city and that you mentioned then a growing ambition.

As far as the TFL site goes, many have expressed similar feelings to my own.   This fantastic social venue for bakers of all abilities throughout the world is your creation.   You should always be very proud of that, although doubtless you are also very modest, as you have never overplayed this.   Your management method and style, as lumos in particular made mention of, make this site an incredibly safe place to post, and it makes for such respected and civil inter-action between posters too.

I am sure this would be your primary concern when/if it came to passing the site into new ownership.   It would never be the same, were this to happen, but I have lots of respect for you, and am confident whoever you allowed to take over would have the same high standards when it came to looking after the interests of all of us who choose to contribute to TFL.

Personally, I too hope you stay on as the over-seer of TFL; I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job.   The ideas fermenting in your comment to David should be given further consideration, as I would love to see you rewarded honestly and fairly for all the hard work you put in for us.

Very best wishes to you

Andy

Hi, Floyd

Often our passions for baking is discussed here. Somewhat less frequently, but often too TFL is equated to community. On the other hand, compassion--the word--seldom, if ever, appears in our postings.

Perhaps this is so, because  compassion is most often defined a virtue for relieving another's suffering.

I think an equally valid definition is: compassion, a virtue for increasing another's happiness.

It is not coincidence that community and compassion go hand-in-hand.

Floyd, it's your passion that initiated TFL, its your compassion that's created TFL.

Vancouver is home to many sailors, perhaps you are, or will become one; so I wish you and your family a sailor's blessing,

"May you have fair winds, and a following sea."

David G

Heh.  You know, this summer I came this close to taking beginning sailing lessons at the Jericho Sailing Centre.  I just couldn't carve out the time what with everything else going on, but I'd love to learn to sail.

Thank you for your support, David.

-Floyd 

Floyd:  I can't imagine you not being successful in any new endeavor!  I think I join TFL shortly after it started.  I was mixing white loaves in a bread machine and baking the same day.  Now I've just turned 75, have COPD, and am on a very low salt diet.  I mostly bake a basic recipe from "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day," reducing the salt to 1/4th of the recipes amt.,maybe addingin 20% WW or rye, adding a couple of folds, and baking under the top of a metal roaster pan.  I am saving my life because of what you started.

Whatever you decide to do, you can't go wrong if you put you wife and family first.

So many loaves, so little time.

George Schauner

 

Thanks, Floyd!

Good luck with your move and I appreciate your decision. I consider this the epitome of what on-line sites can be and do. It is clearly IMO the best "user" driven site and the quality of the population is outstanding. While the site would not be what it is without us, I am confident that it would not be what it is without you! Your insights, efforts and sacrifices to create and maintain this site are at the heart of what The Fresh Loaf!

Vancouver is a great city. Hope to see you there someday and buy you a beer or glass of wine to say thank you for all you have done!

Jay 

Toast

proth5 on 24 Mar 2012 at 11:43

has been said that I will add only a little bit more.  We have never thanked you enough for providing this site and it has been a great addition to my baking life.

Good luck to you and our family as you undertake this new adventure.

Pat

You have created something wonderful in TFL!   Yes, it is a community but one that couldn't exist without your fantastic maintenance of this site.  Bells and whistles and links to whatever the lastest social media are  don't make a site.  A dedicated siteowner with a vision for a community site and the dedication to see it through are what creates the magic that is TFL.  We don't thank you often enough.

I hope your move is the smoothest of all moves!  What a wonderful place to move to!

Sincerely,

Heidi

what an eloquent group we are...not many people would have prompted such a surge of gratitude and emotion. I share all the grateful comments and agree with David and Ananda that there might be some way we could all contribute so that you felt able to justify staying with us. very best luck with the move. and thank you. candis

Please permit me to add my voice to the chorus of gratitude for the energy you have put into making this site a community. I have been mostly a lurker over the years, learning so much from others who shared their experience. My bread is certainly the better for it!

I am a fellow Oregonian, but I love BC and Vancouver is one of my favorite cities. I wish you and your family well in this new adventure.

I would happily contribute or subscribe to make this a more sustainable venture for you.

Cheers,

Tracy

 

Floyd,

I would be happy to put my money where my mouth is as Tracy and others have suggested in order for this to work out for you and your family in the future. 

I would happily offer to organize something along these lines but, alas, I am a lousy organizer.  I am a good follower for the right causes though so hopefully somebody with talents in this department will emerge and then who knows what will happen....I sense possibility :-)

Take Care,

Janet

The quality of the information you have offered the bread baking community around the world is unmeasurable.  Your sites offer recipes, education, and frank discussion and controversy, sometimes resolved and sometimes not.  Thank you for thinking of the quality of the blog and for the quality of the information offered to the members.

Floyd, I've been awol for a while, but I logged on especially to say that I think you did the right thing and that I am as grateful for it as all the others in this community.

Yes, TFL may be attractive to investors, but it also has a homespun quality that is very attractive just as it is.

I'd be glad to be a subscriber if that would help, even if you've never put one of my loaves on the front page...

I agree and would wear a badge or tee shirt or simply nothing except make a contribution.

Best wishes to you and your family. I am hoping for an easy and safe trip, and adjustment. Many nice things have been said, I add my heartfelt thanks.  Ray

Well, I am late to wish you all the best in your upcoming adventure, and in thanking you for keeping the site the way it is....

I just want to add that I've moved countries three times - Brazil to USA, and back.   Brazil to France.  Finally, France to USA.

In two of the moves, my idea was not to move back - when I went to France I had the intention of staying there permanently, but ended up in the US and now I am a naturalized American.

It can be very stressful.  My most difficult move was from Brazil to France. I separated from my first husband, left a wonderful house behind, and left with two suitcases and nothing else, all by myself.  Those first 4 months were the toughest of my life, maybe, but looking back, I am so glad I did it. 

 

CHange is good, and you are going with your family, which is already a great emotional support, it is the type of experience that will make a solid relationship even more so. 

thanks for all the energy and effort you put in this site, that definitely helped me become a much better baker (not that I am all the way there, mind you..... until I master croissants, I will be around complaining and pouting  ;-)

 

GOOD LUCK!

Hi Floyd, 

A warm welcome to you and your family from a life long British Columbian! Hope your move is an easy one and as stress free as moving to a new city can ever be, but once that's out of the way I think you'll be glad you made the decision to live in Vancouver. I lived there for the first 40 years of my life and if not for opportunities on Vancouver Island presenting themselves, I'd still be living there.

I have yet to run across another site, baking related or not, that functions on so many levels as well as this one. This didn't happen by accident, it happened because of your care, attention, and hard work. The result is exceptional. I truly hope that when the time comes you decide to sell the site that you can name your minimum price and the buyers line up to outbid each other. Until that time comes I'll be thankful for every day that the site remains under your stewardship, user pay or not. Thank you Floyd and Dorota!

Wishing you and yours the very best for your future in B.C.

Franko

This afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting Txfarmer who moved to Seattle recently.  I made lunch, which included Hanseata's German Brochten, and Txfarmer brought her amazing croissants.  It was a delightful meeting and one made possible only through TFL. Two days ago, I posted a plea for help when I couldn't figure out how to get good results from my new gas oven, and I immediately got advice and encouragement from TFL members.  

These are just two recent examples of the wonderful service TFL provides. There is a spirit of generosity and care on this site that is unique, and you deserve credit and thanks for creating the container in which that spirit can flourish.

So thank you!  Enjoy Vancouver - and be sure to have dinner at Vij's. 

 

I gravitate to The Fresh Loaf the way I would gravitate to a favorite coffeehouse or café, where I can linger a while with a cup of good coffee, do some reading, maybe run into a friend or strike up an interesting conversation with a stranger. I wholeheartedly agree with everything that’s been said so elegantly already. I’m grateful to you for what you’ve created and for the friendly tone you’ve set as a standard for the site. It has welcomed all of us over the years and invited us back again and again. We share a passion for bread, but we end up sharing so much more. There are often times during the day when I think about a remark or a formula or a life story that I’ve connected to through The Fresh Loaf; it is woven into my life now! I have learned so much, and not just about bread.

I wish all good things for you and your family in your move to Vancouver. I've heard it's a very special place. Thank you for the remarkable commitment you have to this site and this community, Floyd. I love being a part of it.

With warm regards,  Janie

I am poor, but could donate a few dollars to keep TFL going and help you out with your move.  Incorporate a non-profit that can raise money to pay a salary, or even create an endowment?

Hi Floyd,

I've just arrived back from a month backpacking in Thailand and Malaysia, during which we kept meeting up with people with similar values to ours. Since it has been suggested to me by some long-term friends that I am anachronistic - a 60s/70s throwback, if you will - in my enduring stance against the sort of rampant consumerism and materialism that seems so pervasive today, it was comforting and affirming of my core beliefs and values to  encounter so many like-minded folk of all ages.  It is similarly gratifying to open up The Fresh Loaf and find this post of yours on my first day back.

Of course, it is essential to look after your family and yourself by creating a liveable income, and given the substantial time and energy commitment that TFL doubtless demands, it is just and proper that you be appropriately remunerated for the fantastic service you provide to bread bakers of all levels and nationalities with this terrific site. I have expressed to you before that in my experience TFL is far and away the best bread baking community on the web.  The reasons could be broken down into aspects such as the superb design of the site and your moderation, but really, it can all be neatly summed up thus: TFL - we - have flourished because of your vision.

I am relieved - somewhat selfishly, I guess - that for now you have decided to continue on in your current capacity. If in the future you decide to pass on the baton to someone else - which would be absolutely fair enough - it's great to have the assurance that the new party will share the values and vision that has made this site such a wonderful resource for us all.

Thank you for everything you put into TFL. Thank you for your integrity. May the ripple effect be profound. And all the very best for your move to Vancouver. As someone who has been contemplating, but only contemplating, a move away from my home city for some years now, I salute you for your courage in throwing your hat over the fence. May the other side be all you dream it will be, and more.

Cheers
Ross

Dear Floyd--

 Your inspiring leadership of this site is what brings these nice comments from your international crew of baking friends and what makes TFL so inviting.   As for me, TFL is a major factor in making me passionate about baking.

I've participated in a few "on-line communities" centered around my hobbies--cooking, cigars, coffee, guitars.  All were either dull or contentious, or both.  TFL is a vibrant community that provides both incomparable guidance and a warm family feel.  It attracts the best of bakers and of people.  Your moderating is never heavy-handed, always kind and always right on target.   It's hard to imagine the same sort of leadership coming from a company that's in it as an investment.

So, thanks for giving TFL's continued well-being such a high priority. 

We haven't met in person, but I consider you a friend.  I wish you and your family happiness and fulfillment in BC.  I am sure if you embrace the adventure, it will embrace you back.

Best wishes,

Glenn

Welcome to BC  - I feel like I'm welcoming friends who are coming to live close by !  Moving to another country is very exciting ....we moved to Canada from England w/four small children intending to stay three years - that was thirtysix years ago ! We  recently moved from Alberta (where the winters are REALLY COLD ) to Armstrong and often visit our children and grandchildren in Vancouver. It's a truly beautiful city ( with wonderful restaurants !) All the very best with your move.

Kindest Regards,

Merlie.

When I returned to my island home after nursing my mother for the two years before she died, I didn't find it easy fitting back into life here. Discovering TFL at that time provided me with nourishment beyond good bread. Thank you Floyd, for creating such a welcoming environment and for all the encouragement.

The decision you have made in relation to the latest proposal, comes as no surprise reflecting the love and care, apparent to us all, which you have put into the site over the years. When the right proposal does come along, I do hope you will be ready to accept it.

My very best wishes to you in seizing all the opportunites which await you and your family in Vancouver.

Robyn

Good luck in your new life, Floyd. Thank you for keeping TFL. You are a very special and respected person and I appreciate everything you do for this comunity.

Best wishes,

codruta

Floyd,

As I read all of the comments here, I wonder if it would be feasible to make TFL a paid subscription site either in part or whole.  I can envision all of the problems with this idea, not the least of which is is the possible unintended exclusion of many potential future members,  but it could possibly provide you with at least a partial income.  Just an idea and I would be more than happy to pay to be a member of a site like this.  If nothing else you could set up a donation system for TFL that is totally voluntary.

Jeff

It certainly could be an option. I've always tried to avoid creating different classes of members here (senior vs. junior, paid vs. unpaid) because I like keeping things as egalitarian as possible, but... yeah, if I were to take a break from my "day jobs" for a bit and need a way to make ends meet so I could focus on TFL for a bit, I could definitely imagine doing something like that.

-Floyd 

I'm the poster that requested the list of home countries of all TFL posters and it is a truly amazing list. Floyd you are so gracious and modest. Let's put the power of this wonderful site to use. I'm putting out a call for Floyd:

Any "Loafers" in Vancouver BC,Canada for Floyd to network with for housing, jobs, schools?

I want to add my feelings to the mix above but I think I'll "bullet" them because otherwise it will be a really long post.

1. I visit this site every day-even on vacation. When it's been down for maintenance, I have been panicked that I will lose such a wonderful experience. A nice addition is that I eat delicious bread. It is more than a recipe site to me. Great people and great life lessons here.

2.I believe you are TRULY a world ambassador and you have brought all the people on this forum together from all over the world to have civil interaction and enjoyment on a common topic. It is good practice for all people to have those skills well-honed for when they become necessary in other situations not related to bread. YOU are one of the people in this world that are never in the news but why we, as a planet, don't go "Poof" and destroy ourselves.  I am truly grateful for all the ambassadors of the world whether they are religious,political or just good people. A significant number of them have come together on this site. They share and we all grow.

3. This site is about a lot more than bread. Look at all the comments above. Everyone enjoys the interactions even more than the recipes. You've done good! I am exceedingly grateful for you.

4.It takes courage to build the life you want to have. Uncertainty often prevails. Make good decisions for you and your family with a good heart and it will all work out. I have no doubt whatsoever. It's all about the journey.

So any Vancouver City, British Columbia Loafers that can step forward? Maybe you can make a difference for a guy that has made a difference for you.

Floyd,   There is nothing new that I could add to the great comments above, so I will simply say, "Thanks for the creation of TFL and for your moderation of it over the years."  What you started perhaps as a blog has become an international community, with members at all skill and experience levels, but united in their interest in baking bread and willing to help and advise others.  This is not something one finds everyday and it is thanks to you that is exists.  Well done.

I wish you and the family the best with your coming relocation to Vancouver.  I trust all will work out for the best.

Bob

and so much more that my words cannot alone express my heartfelt thanks.  Thank You, Floyd!

Sylvia