End of the Trip / Reductions / Refunds (Patreon)

So back at the beginning of the trip, before I even left, I said to my wife "If it ever stops being fun, we'll come back."

Well, in late August after the last round of videos we hit a low point with the trip. I got into an argument with my friend Mitty, and it ended our friendship. We went dead broke for a week with no food, electricity, or anything. And so Kendra asked to come home. I asked her if I could finish up at least some of my intended loop, and she agreed so long as I was quick about it. 

So all of September was a travelling month, and we did 4,000 miles in thirty days. And then all of October I wasted like an idiot.

I wasn't able to get much work done in September on videos because of the pace we were travelling. And I wanted to maybe keep travelling myself when we got back to Seattle. But the snows have come and the season is over and I've got to admit that the trip is fully over as well. 

Since arriving back, Kendra got her job back immediately and has been having a great time. She missed her family a great deal. I've been having a lot harder of a time. Here's the thing: I know damn well no one pays me to mope. So I owe you all at least a month or more.

So here's some questions I'd really like each patron to ask themselves, and I'll conduct myself accordingly:

1) Do I have any interest in supporting Noah if the trip is over?

Many of you donated because I was doing something unusual or interesting with the trip, but now that it's done I'm going to have to sign a lease and acquire furniture and regular everyday stuff I feel many of you have no interest in paying for. Regrettably, this is what I need the money for now. If you don't wish to support a more standard lifestyle, please reduce or cancel your donation as I can't really avoid spending money on these things now.

2) Have I been wronged by the lack of channel activity?

I'm trying as hard as I can to finish two videos by the end of today, but it's gonna be a matter of less than six hours if I can get a video done in October at all. That's unacceptable. I know it, you know it. I have, I feel, done badly by everyone donating money to not have a concrete thing to give you in return after sixty days or more of waiting. September's inactivity was, in some ways, forgivable because it'll lead to another major travel video. But October was dry because I've been depressed, and that's unfair bullshit as far as patrons are concerned. My mood should be immaterial to demonstrable *results*. And I've done fuck-all. There's videos coming within the next 24 hours and more videos after that, BUT there is nothing I can do now about the gap. 

PLEASE DEMAND REFUNDS if you are at all unhappy. Please cancel your patronage if you feel I have become unreliable.

3) Is my donation appropriate to the output?

It's been a slow year for the channel with all the travelling, and while I hope to make up for it and increase the average videos per month to closer to two for the year in the last couple months, there's really no excusing the slowness. 

There are many other video essayists who are doing better, faster work than I am now. The only reason to donate to me is if you like how I do what I do. 

Please consider reducing your donation or cancelling your donation if you feel your money could be better spent on a more consistent, skilled channel.

Anyway, I'm trying my best but my best is a pretty unimpressive thing the past few weeks-- and that's something you shouldn't have to literally pay for. I will refund anyone who has received this message after their pledge has been processed and would like their money back.

With apologies,

Noah