With WC EU now a bit in the rearview mirror I’ve had some time to reflect on what may have been a life-changing event.

If it’s possible, I am more connected now to the WordPress Project and the WP Community than ever before. How could I not be?

The WP Community was something I have been looking for for 50 years. Belonging to a group of like-minded people is priceless and irreplaceable. It is the reason why I will never retire. Retire and give this up? And do what? Not a chance!

There is no registration, no fee, and nothing really to do except show up to be part of the WP Community. Don’t I know.

And while I should have known all along, it became more than obvious that the WordPress Community is an international traveling community.

While I enjoyed presenting “How I Use Low Vision As My Tool To Help Me Teach WordPress” (an apparently irresistible topic to the organizers as it has two favorite topics of the WP Community – disability and teaching WordPress) it really was not the highlight of the event for me. Sure, presenting my talk “TED-style” was cool if not a little offsetting at first, it was the networking, the chance to meet lots of new folks, and re-meet a lot of friends and acquaintances from previous WC experiences. And with almost 3,000 people in attendance, I felt like I was overdosing on dessert for 2 days,I especially loved meeting people I had only ever met online.

And these are all very special people. They are wicked smart, funny and most of all open to new people and new ideas. That is what the WC Community is about. And in many cases, since I am old enough to be their Father I am particularly honored and humbled that they are always open to me.

While the 2-day event was fabulous roaming around the Vendor Hall, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the huge and fabulous parties where my wife – not a techie and who was concerned that WC EU would be nothing but WP Talk – had a great time at all of them.

I could go on and on and I will in my mind for a very long time.

If you were at WC EU please share your thoughts, impressions, memories or favorite moments. We’d love to now.