Is it Normal for things to slow down around the holidays?
yep...and it doesn't matter what type of players youn have.
Older players have family stuff
Younger players, might just be here Durning ';school' and then you don't hear from them
Players prepping for Holidays, guests and all that goes with it, factor in.
i have been on this site, a very long time... the three games i run all have 10 years or more....The Most active game, has posts everyday..but those posts rise and fall with activity..Summer Vacations...a few players have seasonal jobs that take them away as well as the holiday stuff.
I check my boards a few times a day.. i have way more freetime then most folks, but even i deal with grandkids , getting dinner ready and prepping for holidays. I try to keep my games moving... a post here and there gives players something to react to, then i can react and the ball keeps rolling.
another fact to take into account is time zones... i have a few people from the UK....I libe in ET..i have players way on the west coast..when i was working, i would hit the boards after work, and a few times before i went to sleep, just so no one was 'hanging'
There will always be the 'ebb and flow'...even RL table top has disruptions, and those games can't advertise for more players!!