Here’s what MileHive.com is about:

So Michael [deYoanna] came back to Chad [DiPrince], shared his thoughts, and the two decided to pursue an “experiment in online journalism and forums,” a place where Michael and Chad could ask a few friends along for the ride. From there, the idea progressed to a place for a larger community, opening the floodgates for what initial projections show to be an at least workable model for a diverse, nonpartisan online news-and-views magazine. MileHive is still defining itself.

I think this site has a lot of interesting potential, and I’m excited to be getting involved (and to be able to use the photo of me sitting in a tree–it’s my favorite photo of myself, and a little too artsy for formal use).

Gregory Hubbs, son of the founding editor and publisher Dr. Clay Hubbs (who passed away last year) wrote:

Unfortunately, these days it is almost impossible to make profitable small and independent niche magazines without “angel investors.”

I love print magazines, personally–I pick up free ones compulsively and subscribe to quite a few more. I enjoy the tactile experience of them, and unlike web publications, they’re convenient for the bus, the airplane, the doctor’s waiting room, or flipping through during lunch. But the web is fast and convenient for quickly looking up information (when I wanted to know something about a specific destination, I turned to TransitionsAbroad.com, not an index of the print magazine), and this does seem to be the way of the future.

The editor of the print magazine, Sherry Schwartz, describes the hopes for the future of TransitionsAbroad.com:

Greg and Clay’s wife, Dr. Joanna Hubbs, will continue offering a wealth of travel editorial, commentary, and resources online. The Hubbs are excited about expanding TransitionsAbroad.com and upholding the same editorial integrity that the magazine has maintained. They will be taking TransitionsAbroad.com to a new level by offering a greater breadth of content than ever before. The goal is to encourage and inspire new audiences, as well as to remain a tried and true resource for Transitions Abroad’s loyal readers. The coming expansion of the website on March 1st will offer ever greater flexibility for featuring the voices of Transitions Abroad’s columnists and contributing editors.

I think TransitionsAbroad.com is currently presenting a huge amount of great information in a somewhat overwhelming way, and I hope the new layout will be more approachable. When TransitionsAbroad.com began encouraging submissions for new sections like “Travel to Eat” last year, I thought that was a great direction to expand in, and I hope to see more in that direction.

I believe that Transitions Abroad filled an important niche of practical, down-to-earth travel information aimed at ordinary people with ordinary budgets, interested in seeing and doing things besides resorts and big organized tours. I wish the people at TransitionsAbroad.com the best of luck in continuing to fill that niche with the website. I’m excited to see what they do.