Getting Un-Ready for the Global Coworking Unconference (guest blogger, Gretchen)

Gretchen of NextSpace and she is headed to Austin, TX for GCUC. But is she ready?

NextSpace is headed out en masse to GCUC this week – the Global Coworking Unconference.  (Oh you want a link?  http://www.austingcuc.com/)

My husband is getting the carry-on out of the basement for me tomorrow, and the kids have been prepped on when mama’s getting back.   And so has my community, my other family that I mother in bits and pieces as appropriate.  I’ve got an orange shirt ready to be packed, and I’ve checked out the agenda and made some mental notes about where I want to eat.  (Austin has my heart  – and my stomach….)

But:  I still need to get un-ready.

I co-sleep, and I send my kids to a co-op preschool, and dammit, I get the whole ‘in community’ aspect of things.  I’m an Aquarius and we’re kind of militant about that sort of thing.  But I feel ready for this, and frankly – I need to get un-ready.

So – I’m dropping expectations.  And goals for the unconference, well – they’re still there, although I’ve filed them under ‘abstract notions’ so that I can be exhilarated and liberated by whatever happens and whatever interactions that I have.   They’ll still get met, but not in a linear, check this off the list way.   And contacts – I’ve deconstructed my imaginary guest list so that I am ready to meet whoever walks in the door.  If you catch me chatting up the janitor, don’t stop me – maybe I’m getting some facilities tips.

Okay Austin.  I’ve got some more clearing out to do, but I think I’m un-ready enough for GCUC.  My one expectation – and I’m holding onto it – is that it’ll be a great time.  If you see me there, say hello.

Originally Posted in Gretchen’s Blog