Friends from out of town stopped by with their new baby to have a few appies and to catch up. The husband asked me about Bitcoin because I mentioned it in passing.

I literally never get to talk to others about Bitcoin in person because I’m sure there are very few of us up here. I seriously need to find my people.

But I was amazed at how well I’ve internalized the points on Bitcoin’s basic architecture, and its fundamental value proposition vs fiat.

I ended up showing this interested young man a couple different wallet apps, what a signing device looks like, and sent him on his way with one of my copies of The Bitcoin Standard. It was so exciting to explain things to someone who was genuinely interested, after beating my head against the wall with countless others over the past few years who haven’t even taken the first step to investigate why inflation has started to affect their lives so.

I swear if I ever get to a meetup where I’m surrounded by Bitcoiners I’m going to get emotional just knowing there’s real live humans that share my excitement about this asset and its roots.

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These moments are always precious to say the least. I also think going to a meet up should be one of the things on your to do list for 2026 😃 If would do you a ton of good and possibly a REAL bitcoin conference/event.

Yeah I came within a hair’s breadth of going to #bitcoinrodeo in Calgary last year, but ended up staying home and saving the $300 fuel, $300 worth of hotels and the ticket price and bought $500 sats instead and took my wife out for a fun night and dinner. I reached out to some prominent Bitcoiners down there before the event to see if maybe they knew someone in the local Bitcoin community who’d let me just camp out on their property but didn’t get a response. People are obviously security minded and they don’t know me from Adam.

Totally makes sense, but what I can guarantee is that the $500 would have yielded priceless relationships and connections. Not to say the sats or gift for the mrs wasn’t worth it, but in the same way that you pay for life’s necessities even when you could still stack more with the money in theory, just going to one of these events would be great. Not to mention the ā€œmental healthā€ benefits šŸ˜‚

Yes for sure! One thing that I’ve become keenly aware of in my life as I consider ways to pivot out of a dead end job and into other opportunities is, while I have been disciplined on the financial capital side of things and done the best I can at my level, I have underperformed on building social capital.

Social capital > financial capital imho, though both are extremely important. The new year will be better and I am rooting for you mate šŸ«”šŸ¤

One thing that would be ideal for pulling the trigger on going to a conference is knowing that a guy is going there to meet a few known contacts who are going to be there. I had visions of going to Calgary by myself, watching a few panels, walking the floor and ultimately having to rely on luck to really connect with a few people to hang with away from the conference. I can imagine there’s a definite stratification between average conference goers and the cool kids/OG’s on the panels. Guess I’ll find out this summer.

How old was he?

If you’re in Denver make sure to visit nostr:nprofile1qqstfkyq0m0l5v2ddqnft8paccmgrmzeea2l87nj0846rerdzgla98cpr4mhxue69uhkummnw3ezucnfw33k76twv4ezuum0vd5kzmp0qyvhwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv4h8vetj9eehqctrv5hsqxht69 I had never meet w bitcoin in the flesh until I attended an event there. It was awesome.

The nostr event this fall in PA looked great.

Oh he’s likely 35. A new Dad. And definitely feeling the pinch despite making $100+k a year.

I’m about 19hr drive time to Denver.

That’s what’s scary - that age, a dad, and a solid income, but out of control inflation.

Good for you for having the conversation.

19 hours is a long drive but keep an eye out on their calendar for events.

had a similar experience

orange pilling seems to work best around the holidays

Love that✨ I'd like to get better at explaining it to non-bitcoiners. I don't think im very convincing at the momentšŸ˜‚ If you're ever in vancouver please let us know!

Cool will do! My old stomping grounds. West Van, North Van, Kitsilano, Surrey, Langley, Chilliwack. I get routinely reminded of BTC Vancity meetups on the Meetup app. Looks like they do it up right.

Oh amazing :) yes i think there's something happening somewhere pretty much every week

And if you have any other recommended Nostr follows for the lower mainland or the island, I do make it over there to visit family once every year or two still. Usually the Okanagan, then Nanaimo and Parksville

That's great, we'll be waiting! I've been in the states for a while so im only just getting to know bitcoiners here (also new to btc!) but will send you a few organizer accounts (maybe DM since im not sure if they disclose their location on here)

I’ve had this experience too. It’s a relief meeting someone with enough intellectual curiosity to really ask about bitcoin. When he gets it, you’ll have a friend for life.

I feel you brother

This spoke to me

Great job! šŸ‘šŸ¼šŸ‘šŸ¼šŸ‘šŸ¼