The Road ahead

Hey,

Tomorrow it’s Christmas. Which is kind of crazy, because I am not at all in Christmas spirit. Yes, the Christmas tree is in full glory. Yes, the lights and decorations are hanging. Yes, the candles are burning. But the Holiday vibes are missing. A feeling that I always have around Christmas and that can best be described as a combination of hope and magic. As if an angle could come by at any moment and brush away everything you’re not happy with.

Now I know all too well that my thoughts about hope and magic are a childish fantasy, but it is precisely that fantasy that is so important to me in these times. If you remove that small, thin layer, what remains, is just everyday life as we all know it. From a global pandemic to a catastrophic environmental disaster on the way.

At Christmas, I always feel I can take a break. At Christmas, I didn’t have to worry about all the misery. But this year I can’t.
I don’t know if it’s because of all the lockdown restrictions, the deadlines and busyness at work, the renovation of our house, or just because I get older every year and therefore realize more and more that this is life…

On to 2022

All my plans

On a happier note. After Christmas, it’s still 6 days until 2022 starts and I’m not sure why, but I feel like it’s going to be a good year. Maybe because I like the number 2. Or because numerologically it is a 6, which stands for family and I put a lot of time and energy into my family.

Another explanation may be the many plans I have in store for 2022. So far, the website has felt like a playground. A sandbox in which I could see if it could become something. And now that I’ve pretty much decided for myself that it’s all real, I think it’s time to go for it. Not that I already have ready-made things, or that I even have a clear-cut idea, it’s more the intention I’m expressing here.

But anyway, to reward your patience that you’ve read this far, I’ll give you some small ideas that might be launched in 2022: [mfn] With the emphasis on maybe.[/mfn]

Series
For some time now I have felt that some stories need more space, or that they are part of something bigger. So I am coding something to adjust on the website. You’ll see.

Newsletters
At the moment I occasionally send a newsletter. I’m thinking about making this into something more exclusive.

Shop

It has long been a wish to have my own (online) shop with products that I design and have made myself.

Memberships

A form of support

However, the biggest innovation will be that I will introduce subscriptions. This will be based on a freemium model, which means that paid members will receive extra content. The site with all regular articles will therefore remain free and accessible to everyone.

You may read this and think little of it, for me it is a big step for many reasons. The most important thing is that I underline the importance of Rockets are cool. It is no longer a website where I mess around, but one of a more serious business. I think that’s important, because it allow me to grow.

I am convinced that with the content on Rockets are cool I give you as a reader something extra. And that is important in today’s world where we are sometimes overwhelmed by all the information and published content. Becoming picky is an important skill nowadays.

As a publisher, it is important that you send content to the world that is really worthwhile. By attaching a financial counter-presentation to it, you guarantee the requirements on both sides.

Merry Christmas

A healthy and happy 2022

That’s it so far with my update. More to come in the new year. Now it’s time to put on my Christmas sweater for Christmas Eve.

Enjoy the holidays and see you in 2022!