Update (see below):
It is time to renew (or not) this website. The introductory price for www.chcollins.com was $3 a month, less than the cost of your proverbial double latte at Starbucks. But to continue service beyond this first year is $7 a month, $84 a year.
I have to ask, is this worth it? I suppose there are more expensive indulgences, but that is hardly a justification.
Update 8/11/2011: I have moved the website to Hawk Host, for half the price (including domain registration). No reason not to save $120 over 3 years. Surprising how easy it is to change hosts these days: the new host copied all the files from my old host, and all the internet address pointers got updated within 18 hours.
You could always invest in posterboard and a sharpie instead. Write your thoughts on posterboard and nail it to the mailbox.
I for one vote yes for keeping the 100 billionth person’s voice (or text) on the web. Whether that is through this particular forum at this price point or through one of many free blogging outlets is another question. You clearly have more flexibility this way.
If I have a vote.
Come on, $84 per year is nothing! If absolutely necessary, you can switch to a simple free account on wordpress.com (and still have your domain name redirect there (and save & restore your previous posts from this site to the free one)).
DB and others, thank you for your comments. First, this has encouraged me to find a less expensive web host (one who does not jack up the prices 2x after the first year) and I think I have found one. Subscriptions (outfits who think they are entitled to a portion of your income on a monthly basis) are insidious and need to be constantly scrutinized. My advice is, don’t make any “elective” item a subscription item. Mortgages, rents, utilities, and car payments are valid monthly expenses. Every other expense should be considered on a payment-by-payment basis. The last thing you want to do (and the first thing that most corporations want you to do) is to commit a portion of your income stream to them.
The visual of the Sharpee on posterboard, mounted to my mailbox, was very powerful and funny, thank you Pete.
And Bruce, we have to get together sometime. Gotta love one another right now.
Hi Craig. Long time no see. 40 years or so.