Blogging from PrimalCon 2012 – Day 0
It was unseasonably cold for Southern California. Rain was on the horizon, and possibly even thunder. Were it not for a few sneaky signs that you’d have to know to watch for – the FiveFingers peeking out from jeans, the fact that no one was sitting, the faint whiff of ketosis lingering about – you’d never have known those huddled together at Oxnard Beach Park on a Thursday evening were there for a pre-event social mixer for something called “PrimalCon 2012.”
A bit bedraggled after a long drive up from the Bay Area and somewhat apprehensive of the attendees’ reaction to the weather, I approached the group. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would they complain about the cold and the rain forecast for tomorrow? Would the infectious excitement from years past continue? I didn’t know the answer to those questions until heard the tell-tale laughter and spied more than a few bare feet, oblivious to the (for Southern California) cold. I saw a pile of sledgehammers and knew Timothy Williams and his muttonchops were among us. I saw Billy Vives rocking the Chuck Taylors, chatting up a few attendees, and looking oddly naked without a kettlebell in his hand, and felt relieved. I saw Mark giving and getting two hugs a minute, with more waiting in the wings. Lots of people had yet to arrive, but above all, I noticed the smiles and laughter and camaraderie.
When three-time attendee Jared walked up, shook my hand with the sincerity and precision of a military man, asked me how I’d been, and made me instantly remember why I love my job at MDA – the community – I knew it would be a good weekend. Everything just crystallized for me. These are just good people united by a common interest in getting and staying healthy. You can’t really find fault with that. PrimalCon is the epicenter of that sentiment. It’s the manifestation of everything Mark talks about – that we talk about – on the blog and in the books.
It’s not just the grass-fed meat (although there’s going to be tons of that this weekend, and I plan on a whole lot of it making its way to my stomach) and the experts and the presenters (although they make the conference worth attending) that makes PrimalCon great. It’s the people.
Overall, this was a super chill way to kick off the weekend. Many attendees were still trickling into the area, getting settled with rental cars and hotels, and catching up on dearly-needed sleep before the next day’s 7:30 AM registration, but for those who showed, the mixer provided a way to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. I know I wandered around the group, saying hello to people from the previous year and chopping it up with new attendees.
Since Mark has his hands full this weekend, I’ll be your link to PrimalCon 2012. Stay tuned for daily coverage of the event, and stay tuned for today’s regularly scheduled Primal Blueprint Real Life Story. Grok on!
Get the Primal Blueprint Fitness eBook, Free Health Tips and Primal Recipes Delivered to Your Inbox
Posted By: Worker Bee
Please come to Canada!
Hi Worker Bee, nice post, you rock big time!
I’m looking forward to hearing all about it and seeing the photos.
I have found myself in San Diego for the weekend and would love to find some grass fed places to eat. I went to the Burger place in La Jolla yesterday and it was great!
Any other suggestions?
Becky, if you happen to be in the downtown area between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. we have the Miho Lunch Truck at 3rd and B Streets. They have grass fed hamburgers on the menu and they’re pretty good.
Thank you so much for taking the time to keep us updated. We all live vicariously through your blog
much appreciated!!
Grok on – wish I could be there! Pour some bacon grease out for me…
I wish you’d come to Canada too:)
I’d like to add that I also believe that this is a wonderful community and absolutely the reason I became primal. Wish I could be there.
Hello, worker bee,
Greetings from Munich (Bavaria) sends Thorsten
I got to know about PrimalCon a bit too late. Greetings to Mark, who answered on my e-mail on 3/23 – thanks a lot for this answer! I will write again after PrimalCon.
In my blog http://www.lautwert.de/blog/ I will publish my first bilingual (i.e. German/English) post on sunday. And next year, of course, I will join PrimalCon.
I was there and just like you said Aaron (or someone else?), what made Primal Con was the people.
There is nothing like having dozens of friends that care about their own health.
Have fun all! I can’t wait to read and watch more about the event.
Wow, it sounds like fun! I had to save time off for my daughter’s college graduation so couldn’t make it this year. Maybe next year she and I will both be there.
SOOO bummed to have just found this. Oxnard is my home and I’m a new newby (just looking into Primal). I could have visited home and learned more about going Primal. And after living 2 + years in the Pacific NorthWETS 60 degrees sounds like heaven (and really what’s a little rain when it’s so warm lol)