The social side of conferences

Geertjan Wielenga: There's also a social aspect to all the travel and the developer advocacy. Do you have some stories around favorite places you go to, favorite conferences, and the things you experience there?

Matt Raible: Yes, my favorite is Devoxx because it's in Antwerp, which is the home of excellent beers. I certainly enjoy that!

I think that's also something you have to be careful of. If you go to a conference for four days and you're out drinking every night and socializing with everyone, you're probably going to get sick.

One of the things I started doing a few years ago is monitoring my health. I do try to be conscious when I'm on the road to exercise and not drink too much, but it probably doesn't work when I'm with friends at a conference!

I feel a little guilt when I'm doing overseas conferences because there's a certain sense of my wife being at home with the children...