On June 10, 2010, almost exactly 2 years ago, I penned the very first post on this site after deciding to simply embrace an impulse to write about my travels. I hardly had any idea about what I was doing, what running a blog about travel entailed, and how much work was involved.
Posts in the last few months have been few and far between, but that’s not because I’ve lost my passion for this venture. It’s been almost a full nine months since I last traveled on my own, and in addition to spending the time beating the in-between travel blues, I’ve mostly been using the time behind the scenes to make this website a better version of itself. Earlier in the year, I wrote about some changes that would be coming to the website this year and now they’re almost here. Single Occupancy is growing up, turning two, and becoming Wanderlust for One.
What does this mean?
A new name
The most important takeaway from this post: Single Occupancy is now Wanderlust for One. I wrote about my reasons for the name change late last year and while I understand that change is sometimes difficult, it can also be necessary. On or around June 10 (I hope!), the site will be accessible at a new URL: WanderlustforOne.com. For the most part, the site will remain the same but I’m hoping to channel everything I’ve learned over the last two years into creating content that’s more useful and more relevant than before.
A new look
To help solidify the name change to Wanderlust for One, the blog also will have a new visual identity which you’ll see popping up on social media within the next week or so. Don’t be alarmed. It’s still me, just prettier! Here’s a sneak peek of the new look.
New opportunities
I’m really proud of the site’s evolution and of the new name, and I hope this will lead to greater opportunities and resources for the both of us to explore the world solo.
A User’s Survival Guide
On or around June 10, 2012, give or take a day or so (crossing my fingers the transition is a smooth one), the new site will go live. I’m in the process of finalizing some last-minute tweaks and migrating posts and images, processes which I hope will happen seamlessly with minimal impact to you. Both this site (SingleOccupancyBlog.com) and the new site (WanderlustforOne.com) may be down for a few hours during that time as the transition takes place, so don’t be alarmed. It’s just a few growing pains.
Staying in Touch
While most of my social media profiles and such will remain the same, I’ll need your help with two things so we can continue to keep in contact:
Facebook – Facebook is a notoriously touchy about changing page names once they’ve been established. I’ve hemmed and hawed over this decision for the past few months, ultimately deciding to create a new space on Facebook for friends and followers of the blog to connect. While rebuilding the community on Facebook may be a challenge in the short-term, I’m confident the decision will prove beneficial in the long run. I truly hope you’ll join me there because it just won’t be the same without you. I’ve already begun adding new content to the space, so hop over, like the new page, and stay tuned because most of the updates from my epic upcoming roadtrip will be posted there.
RSS Feed – if you’re used to receiving blog updates in your RSS feed reader or by email, be sure to re-register on the site once it goes live. I’ll be sure to send out a reminder on Facebook and Twitter once the feeds are activated and ready to go.
Questions? As always, you can talk back to me on Twitter (@WanderOne) or via email at my new address marsha(at)wanderlustforone(dot)com.
As always, thank you for your words of encouragement and for taking the time to read what I write, to comment when something I’ve written makes you think, and to sharing the love when something moves you. You’ll never know how much it means.
xoxo,
Marsha
Hi Marsha,
It’s been a while since I last put up a comment because I’ve been sidetracked with university. I haven’t stopped following you though and I love the new look. It has an air of freshness about it that really appeals to me. It’s like I’ve encountered a brand new website but with the familiarity of your old one. Change is a great thing. If we’re not going forward we’re going backwards so keep up the great work and keep on evolving the website as your yourself keep on evolving as a person:)
Matt! Missed ya buddy! Glad you’re getting a break from classes…I do love the new look of the site and glad you approve! : )
Hm, I noticed that my original comment for this post did not appear. Strange.
Ok, well I can’t remember what I said in the first comment but I love this site (and dug your old one also) and look forward to all of your wanderlust travels.
I am going through a transformation of sorts with my site also and ugh, the background work is super annoying.
This is an exciting time and I anticipate a lot of great things for your in your travel future.
Hey, Rhona..I’m still trying to reintegrate a few comments so never fear, I saw it and it’s not lost. Thanks so much for your support; glad you like the new look!
Great looking new site! Also, I LOVE the sub-title. very creative and so true.
Best of luck with the transfer and the relaunch! The sneak peek of the new page design looks great so can’t wait to see the full version when it’s unveiled!
Congrats on making the decision and the change! I started my own blog as ‘Blog on the Run’ four years ago, and a little over a year and a half ago moved it all over to The Suitcase Scholar–which is so much better I can’t even begin to describe. I’m still growing as a blogger–almost four years later–and I intend to continue growing. It’s all a learning process, and that’s the best part.
Can’t wait to see the new site!!! (Though, for the record, I loved Single Occupancy. But I completely agree with all of your reasons for changing slash improving!)
Oh, good! Another person who feels my pain! Sounds like you don’t regret the decision one bit, and for what it’s worth, both Blog on the Run and The Suitcase Scholar are such catchy, witty names! Blogging really is a learning process and I’m really having fun doing it. Crossing my fingers everything goes smoothly over the next few days so you can see the new site soon! 🙂
I have been through this before and it is not always fun. Hopefully everything will go smoothly. Once it is all moved over make sure you go into google webmaster tools and redirect the individual pages so you will not loose any ranking.
Thanks for the tip, Jeff!
Haha… I love that you did an interview with yourself! S.O. and Marsha 😛 I enjoy looking back on my earlier posts. Sometimes it makes me think about how long I’ve come (even though it’s been slooow progress), but I also get nostalgic for those early days when I few people read my blog and I wrote whatever I felt like. I love those early stories. Congrats on taking this step. I remember how scary it was when I moved from a wordpress.com blog to a complete different self-hosted blog. Every so often it crosses my mind to take on a new domain name yet again, but I haven’t come up with a name that inspires me enough to take that on yet!
Lawd, Ekua–I’ve been sitting on the WanderlustforOne name for over a year and I’ve been skeered to make this transition, but it just feels right. I can’t explain it any more than that. But yes, if you ever do decide to change your domain name (which..why? I love it!) be sure it’s something you want to do. There’s a lot of work to do in the backend to make it work. Exhausting, but so worth it. Thanks so much for your support in this!
P.S. Love the new look at your site–you do have a way with visuals!
Thanks, Marsha. I feel like you once said that you have a background in graphic design or something similar, so that means a lot 🙂
Congratulations on officially making the switch – looks good!
Thanks, Ekua! Looking forward to more updates from you as well.