Hello my dear friends on the Inkwell team. Hello community of writers. It's hard to read that 'good-bye'. The kindness and grace in the message is the glue that holds the Inkwell together. Thank you.

I am at a certain age, at a certain season in life. The richness of my experience at the Inkwell helps me to acknowledge change, and accept it. Last night I was reading about birthday celebrations in Bhutan. There aren't any, except once a year on January 1st, for everyone. It is not the number of years lived but how they are lived that matters, according to the Bhutanese.

My time with the Inkwell has made me rich, has added significance to my life. I thank all the writers who come back and offer their pieces for assessment. There has been such growth in some of these writers. It is rewarding to see.

I thank you @jayna for your leadership, for what you have taught me, for your patience and friendship. I thank you my dear friend @yaziris, for never giving up on me, for reaching across the decades and opening doors to a universe of technology and understanding that seemed impenetrable to me. @gracielaacevedo and @itsostylish: we shared our perspectives, our sensitivity, our world views. You opened my eyes. You were patient on those days when I was impatient. Thank you for your friendship and your forbearance. As for our young recruits: they are so bright. @millycf1976 and @grindan are gems, skilled writers with an acute sense of good writing. They will help to make the Inkwell even stronger in the future.

This is not good-bye. I'm here. It's just that, when I wake up in the morning I don't have to look and see if stories are read. When I go to bed at night, I won't have to check the community and make sure the 'work' is done. That's the idea of retirement, isn't it? I'll go at my own pace.

See all of you around. I'll be here.

With love,
@agmoore