Maker Faire Bay Area 2012 is well behind us, but I'm still recovering. I blame the slow recovery on the killer combo of a lingering cold, the long drive there and back, and the toddler attached to me like velcro after being separated from mommy for two full days and nights. Exhaustion aside, I am so happy to report today about my first Maker Faire experience. I think I learned something about myself at Maker Faire. You guys, I think I'm a maker!
At my age (29), I feel like I should have a good grasp of who I am by now. But subtract the innocent years of childhood (-12), the years of being a stupid teenager (-6), and the dazed years of college (-6) and as it turns out I've only been adult-me for five years. Five years is not a long time for self-discovery.
In those five years post-graduation, I've tried my best to fill those long free nights and weekends that had previously been filled with homework and part-time jobs. I tried every hobby under the sun (not a cheap endeavor, by the way). The common denominator was this: I like to spend my free time in a constructive way.
At Maker Faire, I was surrounded by a full crowd of people who value the same things as me: making, building, creating, collaborating, puzzling, challenging, playing, and maybe even a little rebelling. Yes, rebelling. I swear I saw a little rebellious smile in every maker's eyes. A conniving smile that said: I reject society's preconceived limitations. I challenge what can and cannot be done. I would rather fail than never try. Destruct or construct, but never stay placid. Yes, I will void that warranty!
Smiles are quite momentous and verbose like that.
The results of all their efforts, combined and showcased together in one faire, provided a playground of thought and innovation. If you want to be inspired, if you need renewed hope for the future, if you seek folks who believe anything can be achieved with a little elbow grease, then this is the event for you.
If you want to see more videos of Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, there are archived live streams and presentations available online on the Maker Faire website.
