For I don't know how long now, I have been powering down my account and then powering it back up again each week whilst only rarely actually using any of it. The reason I was doing this was to create a habit that if I needed some funds relatively quickly, it would always be less than a week away and possibly very close but, I don't really need it anymore as a safety net.
I was reminded of the powerdown today by 
As said, it was for a safety net, my in case of emergency, break glass habit that might have saved me in times of need but since I have been able to trade a little and gain a little, if I really need something, I will take it from there anyway. After all, if push comes to shove, am I really going to sell my Steem or would I sell something I have less faith in?
I see many people (some of which are high earners) powering down and taking it out which is of course their right but to me, it looks pretty bad, like they are not invested in the community that supports them and gives them the means to do it. And, if someone didn't scroll through my wallet to see me power back up, they would only see the powerdown scheduled and assume I am one of the ones with a foot out the door, siphoning my earnings away to buy Doge or Reddcoin.
Lately, it has been more of a thoughtless habit to do and relatively redundant as I prefer to have it in Steem Power anyway as there it can earn and add power to my votes. Sometimes it takes a friend to point out a bad habit (or in this case, a useless one) and I am glad he did otherwise it might have gone uselessly for much longer. I do need to cover the cost of delegation though so I have to keep some available.
The other thing he mentioned was perhaps it costs me votes as some people do not like voting on accounts that are in a constant powerdown as if they have a long-term view for Steem, it is not ideal if people are constantly dumping it on the markets. Although, in time, those who are buying it cheap will likely benefit massively.
I have a long-term view for Steem and since I am not under 30, my long-term view is not 6 months in the future, it is years down the track. I am looking to points where my baby daughter will get the keys to her wallet on her 18th Birthday kind of thing. Steem will be getting in short supply by then, still available, but in high demand if my predictions (and crossed fingers) hold true.
What I have been doing however is taking some of the SBD earned out and hoping to catch a spike which is often accompanied by steem rising too. Then, when they drop, buy more Steem and power it up. I am a little bit of a power up addict usually and anytime I have taken off platform, it pains me but when I bring it back it with additions, it feels good.
But, I still do hold that people can do what they like with what they earn but I am also hopeful that at least some do understand the potential and value here that is to come. Except those who aren't interested in building the community, I hope they sell all of their Steem cheaply and I hope they regret it. :P
Now, enough about Steemit/Steem and SBDs and I will try to write some fiction instead. Maybe it will be about a guy who regretted selling out early...
Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]