I've probably always marched to the beat of a different drummer. I'll be proving it again by returning to the corporate world on the shores of Lake Erie. Back to my hometown and back to my trade-publishing origins. With a mixture of enthusiasm, bravado, trepidation and melancholy, I'm pulling up roots that I happily put down in Southwest Florida.

In December 1996, Maxine and I landed on these shores fresh from a West Coast stint with a leading-edge Web site. I came from a high-tech background where everyone had at least one e-mail address-often two or three. Back then most of you looked at me kind of funny when I asked for yours. Otherwise, the welcome was warm and enthusiastic.

When we launched Southwest Florida Business in 1997, you embraced even our awkward early efforts. As we got better at what we did, we had the pleasure of covering great companies, outstanding business leaders, hot issues and the waves of change that have washed over Southwest Florida.

Now we can sit back and watch the pros at Gulfshore Media build on our efforts to deliver an even better product than we had imagined. Eighteen months into their stewardship, Gulfshore Business looks very good indeed.

Before launching our magazine, I had an intellectual understanding of what small business was all about. Now I understand it at the gut (sometimes gut-wrenching) level. I also had a lukewarm appreciation for the great good that committed companies can do in a community. But I hadn't watched and been a part of the fun and reward that comes from real community involvement.

The greatest joy comes from the friends who have helped us, commiserated with us and rejoiced with us throughout the rough-and-tumble of our small-business adventure. Thanks to all of you and to many others for making the hard work so rewarding and fun.

We'll be back. You may not recognize us at first. We'll be snowbirds of a different color.