Since 2005, I have been able to attend the NECC conference. I was blessed to be able to attend the conferences for free due to awards that i was lucky enough to win……so, when planning for NECC 2008, I assumed I would win yet another award and pay for NECC. But alas, 
, that did not happen…..and that is just fine. I enjoy seeing my friends achieve success as much as I enjoy it as well.
So — I found myself at the end of April still not sure whether I would be able to attend NECC. And wondering what to do, what to do.
Last year at NECC — though I had a wonderful time — I ended up sitting in “The Blogger’s Cafe” much of the time. Not that that was wrong, I had wonderful conversations with a variety of people I already respected and got to hear and know new voices as well. But, when I flew back home — I wondered “hmmmm, is that what NECC is supposed to be?” And for me, for 2007 — it was EXACTLY what it was supposed to be. But should history repeat itself??
So I am looking at options……and though I am still wavering, NECC does not seem to be winning right now. For certain, there are faces that I will miss VERY VERY MUCH. I will miss the RIB COOKOFF and watching my favorite presenters present. I will miss the WOW2 live show and all the fun conversations that happen once in a life-time. I will miss smiling with friends I enjoy so much and getting to actually meet people I have only chatted, twitted, or read their blogs. I will get everything second hand via twitter, blogs, ustream, and backchanneling. But, at least for me, and with my present circumstance, and possible future plans…..spending $1,000 to attend NECC just does not seem wise or prudent at this time.
My other option is to go toward BLC — not to attend BLC — but to be in Boston while it is going on. My friend who lives in Boston has graciously said that i can tag along as her guest to the extra events…..and the PodCamp is that weekend — and it is free. So, I can basically do BLC (Okay be in the same city — and still see F2F many of you) for about 1/2 of the cost. Round trip to Boston is $309 right now on Priceline. And I am very good at pricelining hotels down to “extremely silly” prices!!
But it is a hard decision to make…..for many many reasons.
I am NOT making this decision open because I want you to loan me money, start a fund, or do anything else to make NECC possible…..I am just sharing my thoughts…..and letting you know where my head, my heart, and much of my “dwelling” is happening right now.
Jen
Perhaps you could go in my place. Second guessing my attendance and all is paid up. It will put you closer to the action with your friends. Sigh.
Well you know my vote- LOL- just kidding, I know that at some point we will meet f2f, whether at NECC, or some other time. I will continue to bother you with silly questions and requests to be shot out of your cannon whether I have seen you in person or not:) After all, our avatars are forever bonded by name similarity-LOL
Follow your heart, I’ll still follow you:)
@CathyJo — I have sent you a private email…and you know I think you need to go!!!
@Vejraska — We will meet, perhaps sooner than we even know, huh? And yes, tansmom — macsmom are bonded!!
LOL — and you need to know the heart is saying GO GO GO – it is the head that is saying “Jen, think of the everything else you need to do – in 2008″
Jen
Jen…
I’ve been off grid for some time now, and Dennis Grice just passed this a long to me. Wow. I was looking forward to seeing you again this year @ NECC. You will be missed, however, I will be taking my webcam (with my shiny new macbook of course) and will be ustreaming out any sessions that I am attending. Get with me at some point and we can take a peek at the session list, mayhap make a schedule that both of us can go together for.
@TomTurner
Alas, I had missed you on the grid, and than I left it myself (at least for a while) so we need to touch base soon.
I look forward to sharing NECC with you. You know my SKYPE — so feel free to call me to talk about it.