MaxFunCon was organized by New Media Entrepreneur Jesse Thorn to bring together those who listen to and support his podcasts, The Sound of Young America and Jordan, Jesse, Go! It was an experiment — unique to our time, but common in our day — in bringing together an online community in real life. And it was, by all accounts, a wonderful success. Of course, not all attempts to bring together people who met on the internet are nearly so successful. (Consider, e.g., online dating). So why did this one work so well?

Many attendees have written about why they enjoyed it. I’d especially recommend the posts by Matt Haughey, Nicole Lee, Catherine McCormick and Adam Lisagor. All conclude that one reason for the weekend’s success was that the majority of conferees were nice. I won’t dispute that, but it doesn’t satisfy me either. Our town’s knitting circle is stuffed with nice; yet it doesn’t spark me. I prefer to say that the event attracted enthusiastic, creative, energetic and curious people who were of the distinct personality type that was willing to (really, excited to) take a bit of a risk. Willing to gamble their time and money on an untried event, with people they don’t know, in a place far from home. One that came without a glossy corporate brochure or a money-back guarantee.

Mind you: this group was not populated by the diving-off-cliffs-into-the-waves sort of risk taker. But is was a congregation that I consider, in many respects, equally brave. People rejecting some traditional notions of how to live and work in favor of following paths that no one has fully mapped out and explored yet. Folks who are deciding first “What am I most passionate about?” — and then tossing their skills, charms, quirks, friendships and interests into the furnace to forge a career.

Many of the performers and speakers at MaxFunCon set a terrific example of how to do this — and I think that is why so many of us wanted to meet, chat and drink with them. Consider, for example, Charlie Todd: can you sculpt a profession out of disrupting crowds in public places? What degree would you pursue if your goal was to bring joy and spontaneity back into urban living? Or how about Jonathan Coulton? Was there anyone in school who told you that you could build a life for yourself by writing songs that you enjoy and then giving them away for free? I’m also impressed by Chris Hardwick and how he has melded his love of technology and comedy to transform himself into the Nerdist. (Imagine how your high school guidance counselor might have reacted if you had insisted that you could support yourself by mixing stand up with writing regularly for Wired. Savor that image for a bit.) Of course, the best example is Jesse Thorn himself. He has combined strong interview skills, good taste and great ideas for engaging an online community to create a successful media enterprise — one that supports itself even though he gives away its programs for free.

Finally, given that this theme was so pervasive, it’s no surprise that the speech everyone remembers most fondly from MaxFunCon was delivered by Merlin Mann. Merlin speaks honestly and engagingly about his own struggle to overcome every challenge that stands between him and his desire to “make great things.” He has devoted himself to better understanding the sometimes inscrutable process of creating — and then sharing what he discovers with others. Another unique and inspiring vocation.

So if you are the type of person who admires the energy, creativity and risk taking that these people exemplify, then MaxFunCon was definitely for you. And it did, indeed, attract many folks who are striving to build their lives using this model. For that reason, among others, they were a fun and interesting group. (Also, I won’t lie: many are excellent drinkers and very, very funny. [Additionally: sexy. Risk takers are inherently sexy.]) I enjoyed spending time with them and made many wonderful new friends.

Yes, it’s cliche to express that community has become a group of people brought together by a tight set of shared interests, unbound by geography; but there must be something to it. Because not a day goes by that I don’t miss and chat with one or more of my distant MaxFunCon pals. We talk about projects we are developing and we encourage each other. They are charming and supportive and I love them.

So, I built this space for them. And I hope they enjoy it.