I’m in Monterey attending the Internet Librarian 2007 conference. I’ve had a perfectly lovely weekend and will need to send thank-you cards to Walt and Marsha and Thomas and Jenny and Alexis and Marie and Dinah and Gail, and I’ve eaten mmmmmmmmmmmm so many good things, glad I wore nice roomy cords, and I’ve seen Liz and Joe and Jenny and Michael and Aaron and John and Cindi and Jason, and in 19 minutes I’m going to have free wine and noshes and see even more people.
Since Friday at 1 p.m. my online connectivity has been sketchy at best; sometimes I couldn’t figure out how to connect, other times people couldn’t figure out how to connect me, and today I attended most of my sessions in a hotel that didn’t offer free wifi. It didn’t matter (well — it would have been nice today, for live-blogging), because I was connecting just fine where it mattered — with people I care about.
One of these nights I really want to go to Passionfish, and I’m hoping it’s tomorrow since I’m fading rapidly today. I think it’s a good night for a salad in my room and some reading.
It’s also been a good trip for my writing. Walt doesn’t know this, but I drafted a book review in the guest cottage he and his lovely family ensconced me in. Dinah and Gail don’t know it, but I chunked out an essay idea this morning. And I’m not going to mention what conference session finally broke my discipline and had me revising a personal essay, though hey, I’ve been extremely well-behaved (being offline was actually very helpful for my concentration) and have used personal time to read professional stuff — I had a first-class upgrade on the flight from ATL to SJC, and it was both productive and restful.
Meanwhile, I had great writerly/readerly discussions with some of my favorite writing friends — and on top of that had some nice feedback from a writing-group buddy. Next year, I am coming back for LitQuake — another reason to keep the writing mojo moving.
I’ve decided it’s ok: I don’t need to pretend I don’t love California. I do. I grew up here, I came back here not so long ago and had five wonderful years, and when we’re done in Tallahassee and I publish a best-selling novel or inherit money from a rich relative I don’t remember having, I’m so back here for good. It’s all right to love a place more than you love where you live; it’s not disloyal and it won’t hurt your home’s feelings.
I smell free food!
Posted on this day, other years:
- Bridges do more than connect two land masses - 2009
- ARL Usability Webcast: Brava! Bravo! - 2004
- Current Cites and the Big O's Latest - 2004
[…] Free Range Librarian […]
I love California, too, and I only lived there for two months when I was twenty years old. Say hi to the Pacific for me–and enjoy the food!
Glad I came across this site today. We used to know a Schneider family when we lived in England. They were on the US Air force base at the time–around 1970. The wife, who would now be in her 60s, was a writer. Any connection?
In 1970 I was 13 years old, so that wasn’t me. Where were you? I was stationed in East Anglia, which I would like to visit again… very pretty in an “English prairie” sort of way.
I should add that I’m not likely to publish a best-seller or have a hidden rich relative. Not that I would object to either..!
Very interesting, the question of what feels like home. I grew up along the eastern seaboard, and went to the west coast when I was 21. I’ve never lived here in the northwest corner before, but Port Angeles felt like home as soon as I arrived. Closer to the ocean, knowing it’s in reach whether I actually go or not, darting off to the big O. once a week or so. I’ve been reading Robert Michael Pyle, who chose a new home in the southwest corner of Washington, has been there 25 or so years, and means to stay forever. He’s a naturalist, walks a big circle around his rural neighborhood every day. New Mexico was very good to me for a long time, but I always knew I wouldn’t be home: that in the end, I wouldn’t stay.
KGS
Enjoyed talking with you Monday 29 Oct on the Portola Plaza (we were waiting for different folks, talking about cell phones, writing, USAF, past ILCs). Yesterday I wandered about Monterey and found a book store (Bay Books across from Portola is closed) and bought a well-annotated copy of John McPhee’s Assembling California, which is a geological perspective of the Golden State. Last evening in the middle of the Gadgets and Gaming session, Bill Spence informed all present of the Richter 5.6 earthquake in the Monterey Bay region. My copy of McPhee’s Assembling CA now has an additional annotation–“been here and felt it — California [Re] Assembled.” Good sessions at ILC so far. Web 2.0 has its attractions and I will explore its facets, with hope that those fascinated with its mashups, gaming, 2d life metaphors, and elsewhere sensitivities, will take time to read books.
How was PassionFish in Pacific Grove?
First – it was fantastic to finally get to meet you in “real life” as opposed to the Twitter world.
I so understand about where you live not necessarily being home. I still don’t know where that is f0r me, though I know that where I am now isn’t. I can be (and will eventually be) happy here, but I know eventually I’ll be moving on. Because this just isn’t home, and my heart isn’t here.
California was lovely – I’d never been anywhere in CA before!
Laura, same on the all-too-brief hello!
It’s nice to be at home-for-now.