Yesterday four of us from the city went to Santa Barbara for a state planning conference. We went to sessions, had lunch, saw award winners say thanks.
I met people I know, quite a number of them. Some I hadn't seen in a while, so we met afterwards for a quick drink. Not entirely satisfying but a start. Pam and I opted out of one of the sessions and just sat with our mineral waters and talked.
I couldn't help but think about planning...about planners. I think I am always noticing the trend-followers in these groups and I'm usually not kind to them in my thoughts. I also notice how excited we get about things like the California Environmental Quality Act and about things like one of yesterday's sessions - a mock city council meeting. We are such boring people! How can anyone enjoy this kind of nonsense, these detail-oriented sessions. Everyone uses powerpoint now, of course, and we even got to take one of the presentations home on a minidisk. Too damned funny, really.
What really matters to me and many people I know is the chance to get together with people we know and like. I did that. Worth it.
