killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
In no particular order of importance...
- Although JC is a pseudo-"professional/trade organization", I can't think of anything in its ilk that would be as encouraging and welcoming to non-professionals in the same trade.
- I noticed a few folks who were new to JC and the NJC concept. It'd be cool to mark their badges in a way that everyone who spotted them made it an extra point to say hello and welcome them and introduce them to people; big gatherings like this where so many people know each other can be really intimidating for new folks; it's a great way to start someone on the path to Paying It Forward.
- This venue and setup was really ideal. Much easier to move around and do stuff than when I attended in 2012. I hear this was also better than 2013. (hint: I stayed at the Excalibur for my first NJC. Mistaaaaaaaaaaaaake!)
- @Derg and @Kristie did a hell of a job putting this together. Seriously - the logistics of something like this are pretty significant.
- About six months from now, I'd like to see a thread about "How NJC Helped me this year/What I did to help someone at NJC" because case studies and actual results are the surest way to generate interest.
- At least a dozen people told me, "You fly for fun? You're the smart one!" - a bit of self-deprecating humor is a good thing, but y'all gotta realize that seeing the vast diversity of things out there - both 121 and non-121 (or, anti-121 as @MikeD and @Bumblebee would have you believe) just makes me think more about new exit strategies from my present position. Golden handcuffs, indeed.
- No, I really am going to finish up my IR this time. I swear. Really. Honest. The wife and I had a long talk when I got home about how we can make it all happen financially and logistically. I must have cured cancer in a parallel dimension to deserve her.
- Five different people volunteered to make the NJC trip with me as an IR training flight. The things I needed to align right didn't, but I am deeply grateful that so many were willing to help me out. I need to get myself in a position to do it for someone else.
- There is this gap....so much I don't know about aviation....and so much that so many of you treat as casual, institutional knowledge...I think that a) my perception of the gap is more about perception and less about actual book learning and b) I think a lot of you don't fully appreciate just how much you actually DO know. One man's mundane is another's fascination, it seems. If anything...it makes the very long road somewhat navigable...
- Wanna see something funny? Walk up to @Boris Badenov and tell him that you think Beechcraft makes excellent airplanes, then stand back...
- There's a list of people I wanted to meet that I didn't get a chance to. That part sucks. Sorry.
- I never thought a plate of huevos rancheros would EVER defeat me until I tried them at Planet Dailies.
- Some day, modern science will isolate the specific protein chain in the DNA that draws pilots to aviation, golf, guitars and motorcycles.
- Um....oh yeah....WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG! (@tonyw)