🎂 💥 POL: Nine Years on the Hive Blockchain! 💥 🎂

One of the fascinating aspects, to me, of these "virtual worlds," is they have a property which makes them historically unique.   At least in theory ...

And, what is that?

They will always be around, continually kept running by people operating nodes all over the world.   We read sometimes, e.g. the way I have ended my posts for a long time, that we can refer to this property as the Hive blockchain being immutable.

We have, then, the opportunity to write down whatever thoughts come to us and know they will "live" far beyond our time.   At least in theory ... 😉

So, with that in mind and always appreciating what this represented, I am now going to write something down, for my future reference and the benefit of those who came after me.   Who knows?

There might even be another reader or two who will find it of some interest. 🤷‍♂️

Nine years is not really all that long, unless you are talking "crypto time."   In which case, it is a very long time.   So, kudos to the Steem Hive blockchain, that it is still around and humming right along.

Over the years, one of my favorite aspects of engaging on the Hive blockchain was receiving these "milepost" awards from @hivebuzz:

^{Source:   HiveBuzz Personal Awards from the team of Witness @arcange}

In the past, I have always written these anniversary posts to coincide with when I began writing.

Here is where it all began.   Since it is my "official" anniversary, this is the time of the year I will write future anniversary posts, if sufficiently inspired.   As I am today ...

With that, I will just touch on some IRL highlights and a quick overview of my crypto investing.

Highlights of Life in 2026...

In my Steem Hive introduction in 2018, I informed my readers I had previously pledged to never have any presence online.   Well, I obviously changed my mind, in backing my investment.

Having now divested myself of my Hive assets, I spend a lot more time these days IRL than in the "virtual worlds" of crypto.   A decision I have never regretted making.

Year of Jubilee

2026 is a very special year in the life of @roleerob.   This concept comes from the Bible.   Those interested can look it up, as I will not be saying much about it here.

The Year of Jubilee happened after 50 years.   Overly simplified, I can say it had something to do with the concept of beginning anew with a "blank slate."

Given the personal and private details of how that applies in my life, I will simply say I have almost never put that kind of information into any of my posts.   I won't be changing that now.

At home ... Gardening ...

Gardening has been and remains an important part of my life.   With some of the many details of the Year of Jubilee, it has not been as extensive as in years past.   Of course, perennials and ... "volunteers" ... do not take any time off.

^{Collage details:}
• ^{In the background:  Close-up of the blossoms of one of our volunteer dill plants.}
• ^{Upper left:  Lettuce and dill "trees" - They will produce seeds for next season's volunteers.}
• ^{Upper right:  Harvest of beets, lettuce & beet greens, dill, & green onions.}
• ^{Lower left:  Beautiful, bountiful crimson clover, for soil regeneration.}
• ^{Lower right:  Raised bed in full production. Honey from one of our beekeeper children.}

Overall, these pictures represent life to me.   The older I get the more I marvel at the power of life in all things living.   With reproduction at the center of it, as illustrated by these pictures.   Without reproduction, there is no future.   Life will cease.   Yes, I could very easily write not just one, but a whole series of posts, on this topic.

Nope. 😉

On the road again ...

There is nothing which soothes my soul more than being up in the high country.   That is unlikely to ever change.

This year that is all tied up in my Year of Jubilee activities.   Given how closely these are tied to family, I will not be sharing any details, to maintain my privacy.

Maybe next year!   As "Adventures with Dad" 2027 planning is already underway ...

Money Flows Where Treated Best ...

This simple phrase, for this investor, speaks volumes.   One can spend all their investing lives gaining a deeper appreciation for why I just wrote that.   Although I took a little bit of a run at it long ago, I won't be saying any more on this introductory statement now.

For the purposes of this post, just suffice it to say it undergirds most of how I think and what I do, when it comes to investing my own hard-earned dollars.

Utopia vs Dystopia?

From 2017 until now, what has been your impression of the general direction of crypto overall, dear reader?   I know the remarkable creativity of (whoever this is) Satoshi Nakamoto made quite an impression on me back then.   Having been "along for the ride" in crypto ever since, what are my impressions now?

I can sum it up with the title of this section.   The idea of some "new world order" based on some utopian promise of crypto is over.   A key to this idea was being free of "TradFi" (traditional finance).   Hmmm.   How is that working out so far?

TradFi forces have reached a point of exerting enormous "market maker" power over crypto.   Is this powerful influence net beneficial?   If you are hesitating affirming, then is crypto's future sliding more to the dystopian side of the scale these days?

Why would I even suggest such a thing?   I could easily write a post or two, in response.   Suffice it to say I do not believe these forces are anywhere close to net beneficial.   They are perceived to be hard at work to harness crypto to their own ends.   If so, how far off are we from experiencing whatever that ultimately turns out to be?

Maybe I will have more to say on this ...   Next year ...

Investing Outside Hive

Overall, I have been slowing, steadily winding down my investment in crypto.   Much has changed since I (foolishly?) decided to "jump in" to investing in it, starting in August 2017.   Not a lot of it, in my view, for the better.

There are 3 remaining groupings of investments I am still managing:

• HODLing "blue chip" assets ...
• As one cannot (by design) "escape" from choosing to invest in some smart contracts, I check on my "locked" / "sacrificed" / ?...? funds from time to time, to see whether the original promise is getting even remotely closer to being realized ...
• Inside the essential "circles of trust" concept behind most crypto investments, I still have some investments in a couple of communities which have never let me down.   Out of both loyalty and a residual desire to have some reliable income streams to show for all of these years, I am still involved.

The objective has always been to put my principal to work in "money making money."   Which would ideally result in the preservation of my principal, while providing some yield I could begin to withdraw for achieving some savings goals IRL.

What a "roller coaster ride" some of these investments have proven to be over time!   These experiences have definitely reinforced that investing in crypto is not for the ... "faint of heart."

Investing Inside Hive

How is it going, for those still faithfully laboring away on and investing in the Hive blockchain?

Having long since left the "echo chambers" of the Hive blockchain, I have no idea (well ... actually ... I might have one ...) what the "big boys" are saying today.   See the end of my post for what the global markets are saying.

Over the years, I have had a lot of appreciation and respect for @costanza.   I found his recent post underscores what I concluded some time ago:

What is that?   Those who remain faithfully laboring away on the Hive blockchain do it for reasons other than it providing a positive ROI on their invested $$s.   ROI on their invested time? 🤷‍♂   Each will have their personal answer to this question.

While I have made my position clear in the past, on my own investment in Hive, I have also sincerely and consistently stated that I do not mind being proven wrong, for the sake of those who are still faithfully laboring away.   Like @costanza ...

I will be happy for them.

Closing Thoughts

My "journey" through this "virtual world" on the Hive blockchain began via motivation as an investor. While that has ended, I may surprise some people with letting them know I still glance through my feed fairly regularly.   Although not often, I have even commented here and there.

Why?

I have a genuine interest in seeing how others are doing.   And what they are thinking.   Especially those of the OG community, with whom I have some fond memories of engaging.

With that, onward and upward.   However you are doing and wherever you may be in this big, wide world, all the best, to each of you, for a better tomorrow!

Respectfully,
Blogger @roleerob

Edit (ongoing ...)

For any who open this post, with any questions along the lines of "where is @roleerob?" or "why did @roleerob decide to leave?"  Anyone choosing to follow this last link will find details to the answer.   I am an investor, first and foremost.

Note what an investor would see, in the trend below:

Now ask yourself two questions:

1.  Will this continue?  Or, will it ever turn around?
2.  Why?

The record is clear, on how I answered these questions.