#digatl

[forhappinessseekers]

Here is a 15 second recap of my day at the #DigAtl conference. Guess the song that is playing. 👍

[vertmob]

Enjoying Digital Atlanta? Make sure to include the event hashtag on your Instagram posts so you can see them on the Vert Digital Atlanta Instagram Map: http://bit.ly/1a7LS9W

[thestartupgrind]

Created a wearable keyless entry for @thinkinc & @DigitalATL using #arduino #digatl #thinkp2d #HackATL (at Digital Atlanta)

[getmoxie]

@digitalatl 2012 coming to a close with @secretsig. #digatl #moxied (Taken with Instagram at Digital Atlanta 2012)

[victoriadunmire]

View of @atlanticstation from Creative Loafing office. #digatl #fall (Taken with Instagram)

[victoriadunmire]

View of @atlanticstation from Creative Loafing office. #digatl #fall (Taken with Instagram)

[morgangster-blog]

Yes, the Digital Atlanta Conference has been filled with learning awesome things about the tech and digital world from interesting people in cool jobs. But there's also just a lot of ATL Love... folks who love their city and want to see it succeed, prosper, and define what's on the horizon for technology, creativity, and well, living well. 

I was a little afraid all this ATL Love Talk was going to make me want to move to Atlanta (which has long been my nagging, irrational fear.) And while I do LOVE the people and the food and the creativity that makes up that city... I'm not yet convinced it's the place for me. In a way, it made me more passionate about living in Athens. 

Athens, if you've ever been here you'll know, is this wonderful little micro-city that breathes and synthesizes a unique culture flavor. It's at one moment this robust, yuppy, scholastic enclave and the next it's a teeming, swirling hotbed of music, art, and entertainment.  The food, outstanding. The people, so strange and smart. The architecture, southern hospitality and walkable streets make it a beauty to behold. 

Despite all that, Athens lacks a lot of what could make it into a world-class city where people want to live forever and not just an amazing college town where people stay for a few years before moving on to something more permanent. 

Athens is a transient place. As a permanent resident, this is something that aches my heart continually. I meet new people often knowing that they are only here for a season... mostly because of being in school or the lack of diverse career options. Athens is a training ground because of the University... and one that often feeds our talented residents to the nearest Big City when the pickin's get slim. 

Don't get me wrong: people love Athens. Anyone who has ever lived here will forever save a small part of their heart that is the shape of The Classic City.  But how do we build a community here that people want to invest in before they leave for something Bigger and Greater just down the road? I don't have the answers but I'm excited to think about them and what it could mean for my beloved Pretty Little City.