Popularity is always a cycle. People get interested in you for a while and then they head off to get something fresh for a while.
There are very few who can sustain a specific level of popularity for a long time.
I watch new people come and go, but I watch a few mature people get it and stay.
Doesn't mean we don't get caught up once in a while and say and do dumb things. Just means we don't quit over every high and low spot.
Some will call having a three plus year relationship with others a circle jerk.
I call it trust. I know you may take a break, we might disagree, but you aren't a scammer, you aren't a spammer and sooner or later you will probably get back here.
Also we do have new users again, so sharing your experience is a good thing
Highs and lows. There are plenty of folks here who are still active, used to come visit me quite often. I haven't seen them in months. I don't take it personally.
When I take a break, it's usually when things are going good. I've walked away from 'success' a few times but only because I was tired and planned to take a break anyway. Another one is coming, eventually.
That talk of circle jerks should be directed at the actual circle jerks. It sucks when those with a mutual respect and no actual agreement on where votes go and when get thrown into that mix. I only vote for what I like and sometimes those folks like my stuff as well.
Plenty of new users. I've been watching my incoming votes a lot lately, checking in to blogs I haven't seen before. I'm following 700 now, yet some days my feed is quiet, but there's where I usually go to vote.