Although we have never crossed swords , I have enjoyed each and every
one of your trip reports. I do nothing but lurk now, tenor of this NG
is not worth participating in anymore. Sorry to see you go. I hung 'em
up in June and don't miss it a bit.

The Bill Mattocks wrote:
Folks:

For some years, I've enjoyed being an occasional participant on
rec.travel.air, and posting trip reports and stories that I hope you
found amusing or entertaining - it sure helped me deal with the stress
of being a road warrior, on the road non-stop to the tune of 100,000+
miles per year.

I've posted somewhat less in the last year or so, as I've spent even
less time at home or being able to relax with my laptop while on the
road, and of course as many have noticed, the tenor of r.t.a. has
changed - there are more trolls, more anger, less humor. Many of the
other 'regulars' have gone away due to this. I didn't stop reading
r.t.a., but I held off jumping into debates that I normally would have
greatly enjoyed skirmishing in.

I've recently reached the place where it was time to make a change.
The continued stresses of air travel in a post-9/11 world, continued
and advancing intrusions into my (our) personal privacy, and the
general business climate (more travel, spend less money doing it, etc)
have combined to make me finally decide that its time to hang up my
rubber chicken and move on.

I've resigned my position with the firm I worked for, and am no longer
seeking employment as a traveling consultant/road warrior. I'm
looking for the daily nine-to-five gig instead, something that leaves
me home in the evenings and on weekends.

I have no doubt that I'll miss the travel, as I'll miss posting on
r.t.a. But the one thing that is constant is change. Who knows what
life holds? Perhaps in time I'll find myself on the road again. But
for now, that part of my life is over, and so to, my semi-regular
posts on r.t.a.

I wish you all safe travels, good restaurants, working rental cars, no
missed connections, non-metallic shoes, and TSA agents on Prozac.
Lots of it.

Thanks for putting up with my rants, nonsense, diatribes, and
ill-humour over the past six or seven years!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks