Unless they're only checking in once a week and losing posts among the multitudes, I think at least your regular readers will be well aware that @galenkp is in town and should be generally expecting that you'll either be unable to be as responsive as you usually are or not able to respond at all, so maybe adjusted accordingly so you're not overwhelmed with a backlog when you get back to normal? :D
Short comments aren't automatically spam, some things really don't need an essay for a response. Or maybe I just think that because I have no problem whatsoever with "awesome" or "thank you" etc.
I'm just impressed you're able to keep up with the posting at all (even if the volume has dropped), I got back from Melbourne recently and then a pile of stuff happened and well I haven't done a root post since I got back XD
I don't mind this either if they are coming from regulars. It is meaningless when coming from people who write the same thing everywhere.
It has been a bit hard at times but I have managed. I kind of like the challenge tbh. :)