One truth about gathering an audience on the internet is that it’s not very effective to do it one-by-one, a method which could also be called “my way”. I like the one-to-one interaction. I like giving one of my little cards to the FedEx person behind the counter, one to the young woman I have a laugh with waiting at a red light, little by little, in the course of my days.

Veronica and David James, The Gypsynester, have taken a different approach. Veronica explained it very simply: “We’re all about community.”

The most recent example is that they threw a book party in the very elegant Library Hotel’s rooftop Bookmarks Lounge to launch their new book Going Gypsy: One Couple's Adventure from an Empty Nest to No Nest at All. And at their party, they spent a disproportionate amount of time plugging The Louise Log and other guests' projects, which, of course, totally broke the ice and made it easy for everybody to talk to everybody. And then the authors raffled off some really nice presents including three days and nights at an incredible-looking resort in Costa Rica. (A guy from Audible won that.) Is it any wonder they have a huge following?

I bought a copy of their (rollickingly fun) page-turner which is about their adventures as ‘gypsynester empty nesters’: how they sold their house and worldly goods and went on the road in a used RV. Instead of sitting around staring at empty bedrooms and the empty backseat, they’re touring the world. And in doing this, they’re a testament to the fact that the internet has made their adventure possible. They’ve managed to gather up a big enough audience that sponsors and advertisers are funding their dream. It's possible! It's inspiring.

Me in the lobby of the Library Hotel waiting for the elevator.

Veronica and David James, the Gypsynester (@gypsynester) with a copy of their (#1 on Amazon) new book.

Charli James (@Charli), a video producer/journalist taking a picture of her parents with her grandfather looking on.