When you hear the expression ‘blogging holiday’ you might imagine a break from online reading and writing. For me, my most recent experience with this term was the exact opposite. After a summer on the Camino Trail, followed by a September devoted to 70th birthday celebrations (my husband’s not mine), Richard and I headed to Palm Desert for a six-week long home exchange.
The first three weeks were sheer relaxation. Daily yoga, lounging beside this beautiful pool, catching up with my favourite blog reads and participating in much-missed writing link-ups.
The next week brought a first-time meet-up with fellow bloggers, Kathy from Smart Living 365 and Liesbet from Roaming About. It is incredible to me how two people, whom I had never met in-person before, were instantly recognized as long-time friends by my eyes, ears, and heart. We spent two days together talking, laughing, eating and getting to the core of issues that were important to each of us. Oh, and as the photos show, there were many antics and messing about!
Then it was off to Riverside WordCamp 2017 to experience my first Bloggers’ (WordPress) Conference. I know what you’re thinking. “A WordPress Conference? What the heck??” Actually, it was pretty cool. $40 got me two full days of sessions, plus continental breakfasts, lunches, snacks, drinks and ‘swag’! Many of the WordPress conferences are very technical and targeted to those using WordPress for the core part of their business (developers, designers, etc.). However, more and more WordCamps are including tracks for bloggers. My most significant takeaways included beginning to understand just how big WordPress is, and receiving some rationale and strategies for growing blogs/social media. I also met some interesting people, so for me, it was worthwhile. Check here to find an upcoming WordCamp in your area.
Finally, it was the weekend that a few of us had begun planning many months ago. Unfortunately, Liesbet was unable to join us, but she was there in spirit. As the photos reveal, Kathy (Smart Living 365), Janis (Retirementally Challenged) Terri (Second Wind Leisure) and I continued the eating and the mucking around. We also grappled with those pesky blogging topics of social media, photography copyright, sticking to our niche, encouraging comments, managing our time and so much more.
Kathy, Janis, Terri, and Liesbet have also written posts on this topic that will publish at the same time as this one. I highly encourage you to check out their blogs to read their different perspectives on our gathering.
We have already begun discussing meeting up again in October/November 2018 either in Indio/Palm Desert or San Diego. Watch this space for more on that. I eagerly await my next blogging holiday!
Retirement Reflections 
I just read about this trip on Janis’ blog. It sounds wonderful! Those topics would make good blog posts too. I’ve stayed away from WP conferences as I thought they were “over my head” technical. You have made them sound interesting.
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Thanks, Kate – I’ve heard that WordCamps can vary significantly — especially in terms of what they offer to bloggers who are not interested in the technical side of blogging. The good news is that there are often several different WordCamps to choose from and they usually offer detailed agendas in advance. Based on the conference that I attended, I would highly recommend them!
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I agree, Kate! I thought those WordPress conferences were for real techno-nerds. Not almost 60 year olds. But now I’m re-thinking! ~ Lynn
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Thanks, Lynn – Wordcamps are definitely worthy of being investigated further. Janis attended one a couple of years ago that was completely technical and not geared to bloggers at all. Terri recently attended (and presented at) one in her area that had over 200 attendees and a full track for bloggers. My understanding is that more and more is being added for bloggers — but it is worth double checking first!
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What a useful piece of writing! Thank you so much for the information. I am already excited.
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Hi, Fran – I’m so glad that you found this information useful and inspiring. Thank you for this feedback!
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It is fun reading about you ladies and your meet up experience! What a wonderful idea and opportunity! You have inspired me to look into the upcoming Word Camp in Greenville!
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Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. I greatly appreciate it. Fingers crossed that you are able to attend the WordCamp in Greenville and that it is everything that you need it to be!
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You really did have a blogging holiday! I’m so grateful that we were able to coordinate our schedules and make our gathering happen. Thanks again for being such a generous host!
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Thanks, Janis – It truly was an amazing holiday. We arrived back in Canada last night. I am already looking forward to getting together again next year!
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Hi Donna! Thank you again for putting us all together for two great get-togethers! I feel incredibly fortunate that you visit my town for a month each year (looking forward to next year already) and that by nature you have the ability to draw people together. While I had met Janis and Terri before, Liesbet is also a wonderful and talented writer/blogger. And getting to spend time with you are is certainly one of the rewards to what we do. ~Kathy
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Hi, Kathy – Thank you for your kind words. I loved every minute of our get-together and learned so much!! Thank you for all that you shared — I greatly appreciated it!
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That Blogger conference was worth the money, if not for just the food and drinks. 🙂 Thanks again for the notes on that.
Meeting you and Richard, and Kathy and Thom in the desert was a treat. I truly enjoyed connecting with you and Kathy and hope we will meet again. Luckily, I had already met Janis and Terri (and will see them again). Otherwise, missing the big event would have made me even sadder… Cheers to another gathering next year! I hope we will be able to make it.
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Thanks so much, Liesbet. Richard and I greatly enjoyed spending time with you and Mark as well. Fingers crossed that you will be able to meet us again next year!
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WordPress conferences? I’ve never heard of such a thing. When did this start? I’ve always considered blogging to be a solo activity in which I make of it what I can.
Your adventure in Palm Springs sounds delightful. And sunny. This idea of getting together annually intrigues me. Make it so, ok? 😉
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Hi, Ally – I’m not sure when WordCamps started but they are definitely going strong now. Janis, Kathy, Terri (and hopefully Liesbet) and I have already agreed to meet up again next October/November. We would love to have you join us!
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Like Ally Bean, I’ve never heard of WordPress conferences! What fun you all must have had. Thanks so much for sharing this, Donna!
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Thanks, Jill -Both our Bloggers’ Meet Up and the Word Camp were very fun. I also learned a great deal and made/solidified friendships. A winning combination!
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It looks like you all had such a great time sharing ideas together and supporting each other! What a nifty group of fellow bloggers! Thanks for sharing your experiences. I’m looking forward to reading about every little detail you discussed – so spill, sister! ~ Lynn 🙂
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Thanks, Lynn – There definitely was non-stop discussing (and non-stop laughter) last weekend. Our frequent chorus was “That would make a great blog post”! Stay tuned to each of our sites for more on this.
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Sounds like a wonderful get together!
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Thanks, Shelley – It was amazing! I greatly appreciate you stopping by!
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You clearly had a great time – the photos make that super obvious. The WordPress conference also sounds terrific; that would have been lots of fun.
I’m looking forward to posts discussing your thoughts on the various blogging questions.
Thanks, Donna.
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Thanks, Karen – I believe that Janis is going to tackle some of these questions in upcoming posts. So definitely continue to check there…but please continue to check her as well! 🙂
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Donna, you are the “hostess with the mostest” and it truly felt like a festive holiday as we shared our two days together! I learned good take-aways, too and totally appreciate your insights and comments! I hope you are traveling safely and wish you all the best as you near home (and cheers if you are already there!). I see our meet-up has inspired other bloggers as well as ourselves 🙂
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Hi, Terri – It was my pleasure to host. Thank you for driving all of the way done. I greatly appreciate you doing that. Richard and I arrived back in Canada late last night. It is C-O-L-D!!
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From the wonderful place that is Donna’s SPAM folder (seriously, though, Donna, you could do with a new carpet and air freshener in there): Looks like a great time had by all. And you win the prize for the best photos.
There appears to be a regular WordPress meeting in nearby Jacksonville, but I just haven’t gone to it yet. You are inspiring me to do so. Well done!
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Congratulations, Marty – You haven’t hit the Spam Folder for the last two comments. You must be on your best behaviour! 🙂 I definitely recommend considering the Jacksonville WordCamp. And I am positive that you and Gorgeous need a Palm Desert vacation next Fall. We would love to have you join us!
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Looks like a great holiday! Thanks, Donna, for sharing the links. I’ll take a look after returning home. I’m saying “bye for now, beautiful Prague!” later today.
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Hi, Natalie – Thank you for reading and commenting from beautiful Prague. I hope that you and your sister had a fabulous European holiday!
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Lovely to see you all together and it includes a few of my favourite blogging friends 🙂 Your get together looked like you had fun catching up!
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Thanks, Suz – It was a fabulous weekend! ‘See you’ Sunday!
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What a fantastic meet-up (or two)! I read about it in Janis’s blog yesterday and I can see Liesbet’s post working it’s way up the queue towards me too. Definitely jealous.
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Hi, Anabel – We’ll be meeting again next year. You and John should come join us. A trip to Southern California would be fun!
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Well, you know, it had occurred to me!
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That would be sooooo cool! We would all LOVE that!
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As I told Terri – I am super envious!
I attended a local WordCamp last weekend. And unfortunately my experience was more like you said Janis’s was a few years ago… it was heavy technical and really targeting small business website owners and website developers. A “mere hobby blogger” was looked down upon! I did learn a few things to supplement my blog (like the need to update the theme and how to do a few other things – watch for some changes), and met some very interesting people, but it was not very inspirational for a blogger. That said, I might attend next year – the local one is so close to me (5 miles!), it’s worth it to just get some insight into some other things. Last weekend, I went to a session on coding – just for the experience! And I gave feedback this year about the lack of blogger targeting… so maybe next year there will be more for bloggers.
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Hi, Pat – Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m sorry that your WordCamp experience was not the best. I’m glad that you gave feedback about this. Fingers crossed that your local WordCamp will include a Blogger’s Track next year. You are also very welcome to join us in Southern California next October/November. We would love to have you there!
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I read about your catch up on Kathy’s blog and it was lovely to see you girls getting together and having such a great time. I didn’t realize there was a blogging conference thrown in – and such a cheap one at that! Big bonus 🙂
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Thanks, Leanne – The others didn’t join me at the WordCamp — but since there are so few in my area I thought I’d grab the chance to attend while I could. You should join us in California next October. A mere 15+ hour flight! We’d love to meet you!
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Sounds like a great way to meet new people and get fresh ideas. I’ve met up with a cpl of my fellow bloggers, but never in this kind of organized way. I’ll have to look into it. Happy blogging!
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Hi, Tom -Thanks so much for stopping by. We were indeed organized. Between the five of us, I think we amassed 100+ emails leading up to this event….but it was totally worth it!
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Great to read your experience of meeting other bloggers, Donna. I love how you say that even though these bloggers had never met before, it was just like meeting up with close friends. There’s never a dull moment when bloggers meet up and, of course, always plenty to talk about.
So pleased to hear you enjoyed WordCamp. I hope you get to go again and also get the chance to meet up with many more bloggers.
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Thanks, Hugh – I was very lucky with Riverside WordCamp. I met many other bloggers there and felt that there was much that I could gain from the sessions. I know other bloggers who have been disappointed with their local WordCamps, feeling that they were far too technical and not aimed at “non-technical bloggers.’ Hopefully, more and more WordCamps will add tracks/multiple sessions for basic bloggers. Fingers crossed!
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I’ll have to keep an eye out for when it comes to Wales, Donna. I’d be happy just meeting up with lots of other bloggers.
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I fully agree with you, Hugh. WordCamp was fun…but meeting up (more casually) with four other bloggers whom I regularly follow was amazing.
I know that you likely already know this, but just in case, here is the link to WordPress Wales. https://wpuk.org/events/local/wales/.
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Thanks so much, Donna. I’ve just applied to join the local WordPress Meetup group.
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That’s fantastic, Hugh! I hope that there is a positive and productive WordCamp in your near future!
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Wow, Donna, meeting up with each other must have been so much fun. I think it is cool to see how blogging brings people together, first in the online world, and then in the offline world too. Looks like you all had some good things to eat, too.
Jude
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Thanks, Jude – You should consider joining us next year. Southern California is not all that far! 🙂
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I love the pic of the girls kissing you. You look like you are having so much fun.
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Thanks, Joanne – Thanks so much for reading and for commenting. We really had a great time! (We are now back on Vancouver Island in the rain).
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It’s fantastic to hear about all of the talking that went on! I’ll say it again, this blogging community is so much more than I ever expected it to be! I love getting to know so many accomplished bloggers. Thanks, Donna, I’ll try and get over your way one day so we can meet up in person too.
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You’re on, Deb! A meet-up with you in-person would be fantastic!!
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