Travelin’ Man

I haven’t quite started packing my bags for the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo, which begins soon in Las Vegas, Nev.

Truth is, I’ll actually need to unpack them first, because right now I’m in Kennett Square, Pa., awaiting the start later today of “Designing Water,” a symposium sponsored by Longwood Gardens to commemorate last year’s grand reopening of its spectacular Main Fountain Garden. Organized in association with the American Academy in Rome, the event is intended to consider water as a precious resource as well as a social, cultural, decorative and symbolic fixture of our public lives.

I expect that I’ll have much more to relate about this meeting once I get back to my office. Suffice it for now to note that I will be happy to listen to presentations by any number of international scholars so long as my time here also includes the promised reward of seeing the revised fountain in action with my own eyes rather than through the filter of anyone else’s video recording or verbal description.

So many watershapes simply must be seen to be comprehended. This is why I spend so much of my time writing Travelogues for these newsletters: I have a real sense of urgency in encouraging watershapers to get out and see the fountains, waterfeatures, pools and parks we’ve covered through the years – and countless others I’ve yet to see during my own extensive travels.

But enough sermonizing: Back to the Expo!

I always look forward to these events – unpacking and packing notwithstanding – and I have to confess that I’m well pleased when I can just hop in my car and drive to them from my home in Los Angeles, as I can for the 2018 show. It’s usually a great time of year to visit Las Vegas, the restaurants are wonderful and everyone who attends seems to be in a good mood, excepting those who manage to get lost in casinos late at night.

Thinking about the Expo puts me in mind of the fact that I’ve always viewed trade shows as being about developing and sustaining an extended family – catching up with people I don’t see as often as I’d like but who have been an important part of my career and life for the past three-plus decades.

After all this time, of course, there are some people I formerly saw at these events who have stopped coming for any of a number of reasons – and, increasingly, some others who are no longer with us. I have a sentimental streak a mile wide and miss seeing them – but I’m always startled by the sights, sounds and little events at trade shows that stir memories and bring old acquaintances instantly back to mind.

I also look forward to seeing friends and colleagues who are still active in the industry, of course, and count myself fortunate that they are legion. But I’m even happier to make new acquaintances: They give me a proud, satisfied sense that there’s a future for watershaping and that there are plenty of designers, engineers and builders out there who’ve heard and absorbed the messages we started delivering as a printed magazine almost 20 years ago. It’s been quite a satisfying ride!

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I have a few goals while I’m in Las Vegas, and if you’ll be there, you can help.

In operating a sprawling, constantly growing web site, I am always on the lookout for people who want to get involved and see the value of using WaterShapes.com to share what they know, what they’ve done and what was involved in doing it. So if you have projects you’d like to show me or a concept you’d like to discuss, please do stop by Booth 1646 (over in the Genesis Pavilion) and say hello.

I generally step away from these shows with enough editorial irons in the fire to carry me through the first half of the year to come. With six feature articles appearing every month over those five or six months, that’s 30 or so productive conversations – seems about right to me, although I’m certain I could find time to have a few more!

So please do stop by Booth 1646, even if it’s only to say hello. You’ll always be welcome!