Interesting, gervase -- how about a long ocean cruise as a metaphor (we have used it around here occasionally).
I have been here a long time, since just after Max started (bless him), and have only had one really bad day with this community ever since. Which beats my regular community a lot. I vary my own diagnosis from cybermenses (as McGrath states) to the growing pains (as Carol states). None of it matters much, as long as there is a solid ground of decent manners and love of the music.

yours, Peter T.