You'd be surprised how much of this stuff is probably already going on in your local areas. I live in Indianapolis and there is a good sized conference held here each year. You'd never know about it, unless you are active in the local "community". This is to keep the place safe for attendees and so that you don't have people just crashing in on the events. Typically, you have to reserve your spot at the convention, then details are released to you. Additionally, local communities usually have a monthly "munch" or "slosh" which allows people active in the community to get together and have dinner/drinks/etc. I know my local one usually also has a guest speaker at such events. So you not only get to meet people who have interests similar to your own, but you also get to learn about new things that you may never have thought of exploring! If you are wanting to get more involved in your local community and don't know where to begin, I would suggest doing a search on yahoo groups. Many local communities use groups like yahoo to communicate events and it is a good way to learn more about the community at large. Good luck on your quest! Cat