Hi Folks I am indeed looking forward to the next roundup, and have a lot more information although we don't have any firm details on time to release yet (cos we haven't decided exactly when yet).
For the last three years we have had the roundup during ski season, and based on some of the feedback from the last one we decided to shake things up just a little for next year, so instead we will be holding it in Crested Butte during the summer of next year instead of the winter (if that helps you decide, Mark :-) ). During the summer, Crested Butte is very beautiful and offers just as much outdoor activity albeit different during the summer - there is downhill mountain biking (the lifts are converted to bike lifts), cross country mountain biking (including some legendary trails), and of course hiking. Being a mountain bike enthusiast myself, I am really looking forward to this for a change. This does not mean that we won't go back to skiing in the future - it's possible that we will alternate years or something, but at least some of the feedback we got from people was that the skiing was a barrier rather than a benefit in some cases, so mixing it up seemed like a good option. Also please note that any and all activities are optional. If you just want to geek out the whole time, you will no doubt find self organizing groups to join you. Not being much of a skier myself, and also because it usually takes me some time to adjust to the thin (very thin) air in CB, the last roundup I actually went skiing only once, and snow mobiling once, and did a lot of afternoon geeking (code dojos on JavaFX, Flex, Scala etc.). The conference is totally what you make it, however we have the advantage over other conferences that you can easily weave exercise into the overall experience. Personally I can't wait to do some serious mountain biking, once I have the altitude under control. Also, I know it is an expensive proposition, primary costs are flight and lodging. Lodging is definitely improved by sorting out a house to share with people - roundup people tend to be very self organizing and the shared houses have been super-successful over the past three conferences - just hang out there that you are looking for housemates and find a likely rental house in CB. There is also a low cost hostel (don't know a lot about that). Cheap flights can be found - particularly to Denver if you are able to drive or car-pool from there - or you could use air miles. If you can get flights and lodging cheaply, but still can't afford the full cost of admission, by all means contact us. It's $600 for 5 days (well, technically 4, but we have the extra JVM alternative languages day now which while open to everyone tends to be seen as the kickoff to the roundup). We think $600 is pretty decent value, but I have said before that if anyone wants to contact us, we can certainly talk :-). And yes, I am totally looking forward to the next one. We believe it will be some time in July but obviously don't book tickets just yet (although if you really want to go, you might mark something in the calendar so you don't go off on a long cruise around that time...). Cheers Dick On Aug 3, 2:29 pm, Mark Derricutt <[email protected]> wrote: > As much as I'd love to go myself, a) I reallllly hate the cold b) > Flying from New Zealand would make be broke for the next 5 years :( > -- > > > > On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 6:59 AM, Todd Costella<[email protected]> wrote: > > As someone that has attended the three previous roundups, all paid for out > > of pocket, all I can say is just go. Pick bottles, busk on a street corner, > > whatever. Just come. You won’t regret it. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
