Going to San Francisco was such an amazing experience that no matter what I say or how I describe it, I will be doing it injustice.
Teresa Boardman's perspective hit it right on the spot - "The People in my computer" - HOLY COW!!!! Those people are real and they are exactly what we imagine them to be and it is so overwhelming you wish you could stick them back in there to catch your breath.
I arrived at REBarcamp on Tuesday and in the middle of a session got to meet Jeff Turner, JeffX, Todd Carpenter, Roberta Murphy, Teresa Boardman, Jay Thompson, Kris Berg, Maureen Francis, Kristal Kraft, Jonathan Dalton........OMG!! I couldn't run to them and give them a hug because I would be disruptive (all except tool boy of course).
I felt like I was running out of air (I am not at all exaggerating) - then I met "the boys" Rich Jacobson, Bob Stewart, Brad Andersohn (I already knew Matt from an AR get together in Florida last year).
So before I take more time from you with my crazy thoughts - I created a Flickr Group for San Francisco that puts everything into perspective with over 400 photos of all the SF events (from REBarcamp, Zillow's Beer with Bloggers, Blogger's Connect, The Active Rain Party, The Trulia Party, The Home & Garden's Party, Inman's Connect........) The photos are not just mine - contributors include Kim, Missy, Brad, Jeff, Desiree, Kristal, Linda, Jay, The Zebra....to name a few.
Oh! and David Gibbon's from Zillow has such an amazing accent and happened to be a really nice guy - no matter what others say about him ;)
I love you guys! Hi INes!!! Glad you all had fun and gained much info...one day I'll get over my phobia of crossing the ocean again :)
It is good to know that traveling to these events is so worth while. I have done some here and enjoyed them. Thanks for the post
I've been following all the updates and your photo blog. To say that I have been drooling with jealousy is an understatement. I so wish I could have been there!!!
Ines,
Sounds like the Inman event was a great experience.....San Francisco is a great city, and I loved living there for many years. The photo gallery has some great pictures. Have a great week.
Technology is great in that it helps to open doors -- but meeting people in person is still what the real estate business is all about -- people working with people -- not just properties. ~Evelyn
I just looked up and realized I did not mention Laurie Manny - we shared a room (thanks Laurie) at The Palace and had so much fun. Laurie exceeded my expectations of her and it was like meeting a long-lost sister.
Sally, it is soooo worth it! you have to do it!
Charlie - worth while is an understatement!
Monika - it would have been so awesome to meet you and Jay....but I know the time will come!
Harold - I love SF - and combine a great city with great people and talk about a dizzying event! ;)
PCRI - you got it!
Make sure you guys click over to the Flickr group - some of the photos are hilarious!
INes - sounds like you had a great time. It WAS a terrific event - I was only there on Wednesday. So sorry we did not get a chance to meet live. Some other time!! The photo group is terrific - lots of fun for those who were there and those who were not.
Jeff "East Coast Boy"
Hey I like that photo of me and Kim, you must have just added it.
Why don't we just have an AR Convention and just get it over with?
Ok, then we could do break out sessions in all the different states. My mind is buzzing, if I didn't say so thanks for thinking of the group so we could all post there.
You are so beautiful, inside and out as my kids would say!
Jeff - I can't believe you were there and I missed you!!! I just saw your pics at Flickr - I love the different perspectives.
Missy - Desiree took that photo of you and Kim. You and Christa are da' bomb!! you are so sweet and it was a real pleasure to meet you both.
Ines - It was trippy, wasn't it? It was a thrill to meet you, and you are every bit as beautiful and charming in person as on-line. Hopefully, you will be up for New York!
Ines, it sounds like all of you had an absolute blast in San Fransisco last week. I keep hoping I will have the chance to make it to one of these events at some time too. Maybe next time! It would be great to meet the "people in my computer" too!
Ines, It was really fun to meet and get to know you! What a great trip... Thanks for setting up the cool blog and flickr site! You rock...
btw, I hope we get to meet Rick at the next one! :-)
Hi Ines,
So glad to hear everyone had such a great time, you had quite a trip fron FL. I think I've cruised around most of the posts at this point. Looks like AR was out in force on this one. I made it last year, yet not this time, other committments.
Hi Ines, TLW and I sure wish we could have been there. We had planned too and then life happened:)
It looks like everyone had a wonderful time. Are you coming up for NAR in October?
Hey Kris - you, my friend, are gorgeous and sooo much fun. I don't know about NY because January is crazy business for us (our best month) but how about NAR in Nov?
Stephen - it will be worth it, I promise.
Nick the man Bastian! you want to meet the actor that I hire to play Rick in our computer? :)
Lynda - sorry to hear that, but I'm sure we'll meet soon.
Ooops! almost missed you Bryant - I actually did not plan to go at all (we had a trip planned and my oldest broke his leg.....life happened too). Just multiply our Florida experience by 500 to get an idea what it's like. I will be at NAR (speaking on a panel), so I look forward to seeing you there.
Where's Rich??
Ines - thanks for sharing - so envious - our computer friends clean up good! Can't wait to reconnect in person - Hope it will be at NAR if not sooner :)
like the idea of an AR convention.... here in Lake Tahoe (yeah, I know it's hard to get to.) Donno why, but I was so involved in talking to you, and then to Beth and Kevin I forgot to take photos of all of you. Thanks for all of this BTW.
cheers
Cyndee - we'll definitely hook up during NAR in Orlando - they do clean up good, don't they? LOL
Richard - keep dreaming!! Lake Tahoe?? We need something central, to make it easy for everyone. I was thinking the same thing, I can't believe we did not take a picture! (but's there's a couple of you on Flickr if you didn't see them yet)
Dearest Ines - meeting you was one of the highlights of the trip! You *better* run up and hug me the next time. (and you still owe me a Mojito...)
Hi Ines - certainly sounds like a great time was had by all. I would have loved to have been able to be there. Maybe next time. I will be in Orlando at the NAR Convention - look forward to finally getting to be able to meet you and many others that I've not yet had the chance to meet.
Thanks for sharing all these pictures and links.
Ann
Jay, you are so sweet. You mean to tell me I could have interrupted the blogwar and given you a hug while sitting on that throne? Dang it! I should have known! (if you come to NAR, there will be mojitos there)
Ann - I know! and I am so looking forward to meeting you as well - it will be here before we know it.
Ines, that is a great list of ActiveRain members that you got to meet. I know that Linda Davis and Jeff Dowler were also there. Wish I had been able to be there to meet you and all the rest.
Yay! Lots of pictures. I started a new PHOTO MeMe group while you all were galavanting around San Fran. (hint, hint) =D But seriously. I'm glad you all had fun!
George - of course I missed a bunch (and mean absolutely no hard feelings by it) - Linda was great, the favorite "linda quote" during one of the panels was:
"If you have a crappy business, a blog won't help"
I didn't get to meet Jeff though (he was only there on Wed. and was obviously hiding from me) :)
Lisa - I have to catch up!! all those days gone and my oldest now tells me that I spend more time with my computer friends than him (guilt trip!!) :) Have to go check out your meme.
Ines,
I would have love to be there but with the summer camp going on and work I couldn't leave my wife to do everything. Next time hopefully it can be closer to us...as you know the travel is almost the same amount of time as the meeting so it was not possible for me. Hopefully NAR isn't the same week I'm in NY. At least we met already...maybe I'll see you in Orlando.
Ines - Glad I finally found you and we got to meet for the first time on a rooftop in SF. haha!! Rick, it's not like it sounds!! :-)
Looking forward to seeing you again at NAR~ Thanks for all the great photos and for setting up the SF Connectism blog.
Neal - I was happy when Rick was willing to take my load (which means house, kids, work .....not the blog). Hope to see you in Orlando.
Brad - it was so great to finally meet you (rooftop and all) - and glad you liked the blog, it was a great way to keep others informed.
great time and it was great to meet you. I was telling Al (my other half) about Jeff taping your accent and he is sooooooooooo jealous!!! Nicaraguaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Desiree - you are so funny and it was such a pleasure to meet you. You are just as lively in person as you are on paper and it was really refreshing to see that. I just twittered jeff with "nicaragua" and he asked me to Jott him - LOL! (I still don't get it)
Ines, looks like you had a blast. Seems like one needed to add some MB to one's brain to log in all the information.
Hey Lloyd...blast is an understatement, now what exactly do you mean by MB?
Hi Ines - It was great following your photos and tweets from San Francisco! Hopefully I can do the same from REBlogWorld here in September.
Hey John - that would be great! I haven't met Mariana yet and would love to see tons of pictures - creating the flickr group was a great way to get a lot of photos in the same place - I'll help you promote it when you are ready.
John, I hope you do that! Ines, thanks for all of the great photos...I have seen some wonderful ones of you as well. It sounded and looked to be a really fun event. So many faces I recognize and have yet to meet. Someday!
Diane - when you do you will think of this conversation.....it's such a surreal feeling and it really is amazing.
Ines, I'm late...again. LOL I love your coverage on this great event. You're such a breath of fresh air. I'm hoping next time I can be there too. I still haven't met 99% of the "people in my computer" and I'm looking forward to it!
Maggie - you have to prepare yourself psychologically.....it's so amazing to meet everyone.
Ines... I am jealous because I wanted to meet you, Missy, and a few others that I didn't get to meet in NYC back in January. But I had vacation planned.... not sure if I will get to Orlando for the NAR thingy.... but hopefully one day we'll get to meet. Looks like you all had a great time.
Hey Jeff, be very jealous because the experience was amazing. I really recommend the SF Connect - it was fun, educational, powerful.....you name it. If you do get to go to NAR Orlando I'll get to meet you, let me know when the time gets closer.
Ines, it sounds like the event was absolutely amazing and as someone who has heard and learned about blogging and social media for a while but slow to jump in I hate that I missed it, Thanks for sharing!
Jason - don't hate that you missed it, make a point to go to NY in Jan or SF next Summer - it's worth it!
Ines - I haven't been able to travel given my family circumstances, but am living vicariously through you, so keep connecting and posting. Thank you!
Hi Gail! you just take care of your family and I'll keep you posted ;)