Nexus

I reread this post right before sending it, and I can’t tell how obnoxious it might be… so apologies in advance if it’s arrogant, obnoxious, or both.
okay. tonight was very cool. After a very pleasant dinner with Adina and Chip (Thank you, you two… it was very helpful to talk and joke and laugh. I have to say, as I was telling the story out loud, I realized how silly I must sound. I need to figure out how to cut out all the dry parts and play up the comedy… but alas; it’s still a little fresh).

I then treked over to the wireless shindig (for which, may I brag, I designed the online flier… please ignore the "Welcome to Adobe GoLive" title….)

Anyway, at one point, in a conversation with Randy, I went around counting the people I either knew personally, knew by reputation, or just recognized somehow from prior events. I figured roughly 50 out of 80 or so…

Granted, it was a geekfest, but I was pleasantly suprised at how AT HOME I was AMONG MANY FRIENDS… I felt very comfortable working the room and had people coming over and introducing their colleagues to me… I alternatively put on my EFF-A hat and CATF hat depending on the audience and felt, in many ways, like a hub.

Of course, in the end, it’s all the same… interesting people passionate about interesting things… but this somehow felt different; despite the conversation I had by the fried mushrooms about San Francisco as an innovation center, there’s something very cool brewing in Austin…

Something very unique that can’t be replicated. It’s our town, it’s our culture, it’s our acceleration of the geek and those who love them… and EFF-A, and by extension, I, am right in the middle of it… and that’s pretty nifty.

Now, that’s not the cool part. The cool part is that tonight I finally met, shook hands, and then hugged like an old friend someone I respect enormously… someone whom I would consider an inspiration… someone who GETS that technology should be available to all BUT that’s not where it ends… someone who is fairly well known in the geek/non-profit community. Here’s where I get goosebumps: she told me she read my blog every once in a while… and then she asked and said a couple of very specific things to prove it.

Wow. I can’t even tell you how humbling that is.

This is what I learned:

Austin.

Say what you will about us, but there’s a community brewing here that’s about to tip.

And this is where I need to be.