It is an extremely rare occasion that I find myself at a loss for words, but trying to translate my experiences over the weekend Steemit meetup into mere words seems oddly inadequate. I don't possess the vocabulary to capture the moments, friendships, and family that was shared by all. It was a few days saturated with meeting new friends, learning new things, and reassessing my goals and paths for the future. I repeatedly found myself deeply involved in some of the most enlightening and fulfilling conversations I have had in years....that's right in years. There is something magically, sublime when a group of diverse individuals descend upon a moment in time to explore the boundaries of greatness and I honestly feel that was exactly what was accomplished. It is the closest to immortality many of us will get to experience. Not only that, the meetup was also fun!
I had only conversed and interacted with some of the people that were attending the meetup a few times and I was extremely excited to get up there and dive into creating some relationships and bonds. I wasn't worried in the slightest because I already felt as if I "knew" the people that were going to be there. THAT is the beauty and mystery of Steemit. For the most part, the people choosing to engage on Steemit are so transparent, authentic, and willing to expose their vulnerability for all to experience that you form real bonds with the people you follow and those who follow you. I have shared more with my Steemit family than I have with many members of my real family. It just feels so comfortably right to do so. Can you imagine 10 years ago telling someone you were going to the mountains to meetup with some people you met on the internet!?! There have been Lifetime Movies of the Week about this! But, other than a bit of nervous energy, it felt more like a homecoming than anything.
There is definitely not enough time or room in a single post to capture all that was experienced and to try to do so would cheapen the moments. I know I would forget some of the people and revelations if I tried to cover them all. I will say that it is an amazing experience to meet your spirit animal in the flesh! I was extremely smitten by Gallow, the beautifully, relaxed companion of @hobotang and @ameliabartlett. He was everything I would want to be as a dog! I instantly felt a deep connection with his human companions and had some deeply enjoyable conversations with both of them. I even came out with a few new recipe ideas to play with! Experiencing both of them speak of their passions was refreshing and inspiring and they gave me a "recharge" to get back to more creative endevours.
Gallow doing what Gallow does! I love this guy!!!
This is, literally, his favorite thing to do!
I also had the immensely moving pleasure of experiencing @katrina-ariel create music and have it recorded by the extremely talented and proficient @sircork. To watch both these masters of their fields work together to create such beautiful music was impressive to say the least. Spending time with both of them together and also on a one-on-one basis means the world to me and I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know them a bit better.
I can't say enough about our gracious host for the meetup, @enginewitty and his encouragement. Having the chance to hit the woods and beautiful small stream with him was definitely a highlight of the trip for me. I just wish I would have remembered to pack my fishing gear. He might not have caught anything, but he has one of the most beautiful skip casts I have ever seen! It was like a laser guided missile. He could hit any square inch of the water at will! It was poetry in motion. He cooks a pretty mean steak as well.
The first night I also had the chance to interact with @instructor2121. I was transfixed in awe by his business acumen and his bold vision for the future potential of Steemit. It was so comforting to meet someone who was as passionate about the future and what it could hold for all of us. He has that elusively rare quality of making anyone he is speaking too feel important and a priority. I left our conversation feeling energized and with a renewed passion to redouble my efforts on creating content for the platform.
I know there are so many moments and conversations that I am leaving out. To be honest, I am still a bit overwhelmed by it all and trying to process it. There were two people who came in on the last night that I did not get their usernames. I enjoyed meeting them and wish I would have had more time to spend getting to know them as well.
I am honored to have been able to glean so much from such wise and talented people and I am absolutely ecstatic for future chances to meetup with them again. Thank you all for what each of you gave to me, you will never know how much it means to me.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://papacrusher.vornix.blog/2018/08/20/blue-ridge-steemit-meetup/
All photos and videos are my own creation unless otherwise noted.
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All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter,
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
-Tolkien
Meetups can be really fun. I wish we had a Steemit meetup here in the Gettysburg, Pa. area.
Your comment about meeting people on the Internet 10 years ago made me laugh. I met my wife on a dating site 15 years ago. I've been managing a business online since 2006 and I still get people asking me if I have trouble trusting the people I do business with. I had a business partner for eight years that I never met in person, and to this day, still haven't. We live in awesome times.
#steemitbloggers
You know, now that I think of it, I may have miscalculated. I probably should have said 20 years ago, man I'm getting old!!!! It is definitely awesome times we live in!
lol
Yeah, I remember when we used to say "10 years ago." Now we say 20. Keep Steeming!
Right there with you, I met my husband online in 2006, and we're still going strong. ;-)
We do indeed live in awesome times. I'm so glad I came out for this weekend, even if my time there was short . . . and I can't wait until we do it again!
So glad you were able to meet these awesome people! I was hoping to make it there, too, but something came up. Thanks for writing of your marvelous weekend! 😊
Next time. Can't wait to meet you, and I can promise you, we'll have a blast! ;-)
well I don't think anybody needs to write anything else now. it's exactly perfect. Thank you for the kind words. It was really cool to meet you.
This was an awesome post right?
Thanks buddy!
Thank you for the compliment! I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and it was inspiring watching you create your engineering magic!
Good times indeed!
Very cool experience! Can’t say I’ve ever done anything close to that, but it sounds like a lot of fun. Maybe I’ll have to think about a meetup for myself one day! Heh, of course, there’s always the ultimate meetup: Steemfest.
I would absolutely wholeheartedly encourgae you to do it if the opportunity presents itself.
What a great time you had.
It was very rewarding experience !
When are you getting to the Adelaide meet-up bro? Last Thursday each month at The Jade on Flinders Street, Adelaide. Get on it. :) #mallsballers
Man, that would be the absolute ultimate experience! Who know? If steem takes off we could be shooting together in the not too distant future!
Was such a pleasure reading this and meeting you man! Glad you went out of your comfort zone and came up. Like you said, 10 years ago, something like this spawned from an internet group would be unheard of. Really glad you got to see some of the talent we have, and that's just a very small piece of the allied forces😉😎 One of my dreams at one time was to be a pro angler, maybe someday I still will, need to get that gopro right? Ha! The lady that came out was @crescendoofpeace, she's pretty awesome. The other was @michaeldavid, long time cohort of my Steem experience. We'll meet again, no doubt. You're my bodyguard😉
I definitely see us meeting again, I'll bring my fishing gear next time! Thank you again for bringing it all together.
Sounds like a great meetup, @papacrusher! Some real steemit notables in attendence. 🖒
it was really an awesome experience. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Can't wait until the next one!
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It looks like you had lovely time! I'm glad that people organize these meet ups to experience each other in the 'real' world. I hope that something like that will be organized in Europe too :) I mean other than Steemfest in Krakow :)
It was a really great time! I'm sure the way Steemit is growing there will be meetups popping up all over the place.
I'm thinking of trying to organize a more local one myself, maybe you could reach out and see if you have regional interest and set it up yourself!
That is a great idea! I however don't know anybody on Steemit who would be based in Switzerland so will have to do some research. Thank you for the tip! It might sound silly but I really didn't think about organizing one myself :)
Such an awesome meetup experience! I completely agree with you that doing the face-to-face thing with Steemians is much less nerve-wracking than other online communities, because the majority of people here (in my experience anyway) are completely authentic. I've been lucky enough to meet up with a pair of local Steemians, and I hope to hang out with more in the future. Thanks for sharing your wicked awesomesauce experience!
It was really great. I'm going to try to search out more people close to me that may be on Steemit and try to do more regular meetups.
That would be wicked awesome! 😊
@papacrusher,
Now ... I want to go to a meetup! Maybe I'll organize one.
Quill
I'm thinking of organizing one near me.
Your words are plenty good! Those mountains look beautiful. Where was this?
Proud member of #steemitbloggers @steemitbloggers
Thanks for the compliment and comment. This was just outside Blue Ridge, GA. It is a really great area with mountains, waterfalls, fishing, hiking, and so much more within driving distance.