Jetson is in need of a new hobby

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

But even the best ideas play themselves out.

Back about 2010, when the computer I’m writing on was still new, I clicked on one of the bits of included software and was intrigued.

It would be simple, the software told me, to create my own website. Wow, I thought, what could be more George Jetson than that?

So I gave it a try, and pretty soon I was hooked.

It was a family site, with background on my family, Connie’s family and more.

It was also an online archive. Old family photos were scanned in and placed in “albums” on the site. My great-uncle’s pictures from a trip around the world in 1921 were posted. Family recipes were added. And dozens of vacation snapshots made their way there.

For a while, it was addictive.

I’d click on the “What’s New” tab and essentially write a version of one of those family-bragging Christmas letters now and then.

So, it’s safe to say, the site could also be kind of obnoxious.

My apologies to any and all who encountered it.

Trouble was, while the software was easy to use in building the website, the process of securing a domain name, finding a secure host and “publishing” updates was an enormous pain.

It wasn’t unusual for an update to the site to take nearly an hour to upload. And if there happened to be a glitch in the wi-fi connection, I had to start all over again.

Still, I have to say, it was fun.

I’m sure I annoyed some old friends, but I also heard from others who appreciated — or said they appreciated — the updates on our kids and grandkids and our daily life in Jay County.

Then, something happened. Our computer, the iMac I’m writing this on, got old.

And the software I’d been using for the better part of a decade was no longer supported. Then it was completely obsolete.

Some Google searches turned up some alternatives and fixes, but none of them were simple. And the fun factor seemed to evaporate.

Meanwhile, I was paying an annual fee for a domain name and a bunch of privacy systems that were supposed to keep the wide, wide world of hackers away from the family’s website.

(I should insert here that I’m aware plenty of this stuff could have been done via Facebook. But I decided long ago that Facebook involved a deal with the devil, trading my personal information so it could be marketed and shared, for some glitz and convenience. Facebook’s continuing efforts to undermine civil discourse and the fundamental principles of democracy are undeniable, even if they’re not acknowledged by most of its users. Sorry. I’m a bit of a crank when it comes to this topic.)

My first reaction was to punt.

So was my second reaction.

I kept thinking I’d figure out a new software and get things going again. But I didn’t.

And I still kept paying the annual fee.

This month, that stops.

I’m in the middle of downloading and copying the site’s contents, simply so all those photos and recipes won’t be lost.

But when that’s done, I’m pulling the plug.

George Jetson, it seems, will have to find a new hobby.