Steemit: It's a place to meet old friends and to make new ones. Steemit meetups are an opportunity to turn upvotes into warm, welcoming hugs!
We really loved getting to know folks last week at the meetup in Riverside, so we braved the long drive to Old Town, San Diego to see them again.
A good-sized group was assembled in the beautiful grassy plaza. I was overjoyed that my old brother-from-another-mother 
I really enjoyed how everyone introduced themselves and talked about why they were in Steemit. How exciting, to meet bloggers in person after following them online for months, as well as to have an envoy from Surinam join the group. Steemit connects positive minded folks around the world.
Each introduction spurred vital side conversations and brainstorming about how to meet our crypto goals and have the most fun possible on the platform.
It's so easy to make new friends in such a laid back environment with fresh fruit and scones for refreshment. (Thanks to whoever brought those!)
When it was time for people to start heading home, 
When I joined Steemit, I wasn't really thinking about making new friends IRL, I mostly wanted a secure place to blog and create, and I continue to hope that I can entice all of my #burnerfam over here off of fb. But #Socalsteemit has really broadened my view about this platform.
I believe that our efforts to:
- Create quality content
- Participate with meaningful engagement
Have augmented our skills to be better speakers and listeners IN PERSON!
Thanks to everyone who is co-creating this phenomenon we call Steemit!
