As the Simple Talk Editor, I have had the privilege of attending numerous conferences these past few years, and all of them have been somewhere between great and amazing. Still, there is something a bit more special about the PASS Summit. Even before I started this position, I have been to the PASS Summit events for nearly 25 years (with a few breaks…notably a hip, a foot, and a rotator cuff, but I digress). When we weren't on a break, this week-long event has always ranked high on my list of things I was excited about each year.

From the moment you step into the venue, you can feel it. Professionals from all corners of the globe are there to share their knowledge, experiences, and insights, not to mention learning something new. Whether you're a seasoned expert or a newcomer to the field, there's always something to learn and someone new to meet.

One of the highlights of the PASS Summit is the incredible lineup of sessions. The content is curated to ensure that there is something for as many types of data community members as possible. From deep dives into the latest technologies and trends to sessions on practical topics, the content's breadth and depth is impressive.

To be fair though, while you will learn a lot that you can return to your job and make it worth the trip in the short term, that knowledge is only the start of what makes this conference awesome.

Whether this is your first conference, or one of many conferences with a similar data focus that you attend, you'll start to notice some of the same people over and over. Talk to one or two of these people over a cup of coffee, during a lunch break, or at one of the many social events.

The relationships you build may last a lifetime. I wouldn't be sitting here writing this editorial if I hadn't asked a vendor during one of my first visits to Seattle, "Are there any good books on database design?" and they answered back "We don't have any, would you like to write one?"

As I look forward to next week's PASS Summit, I want to encourage you to get out of your shell, attend sessions, ask questions, meet new people, and immerse yourself in the experience. Explore the area too (if the weather is nice that whole area in Seattle is great to explore), but go to the conference and get everything you can from it.

And whether you listen to my advice, I certainly need to be reminded of it myself because sometimes I would prefer to be sitting in my room away from tired feet and hurting muscles.  The advice helped me in the past, and it can help us both today, tomorrow, and maybe 20 years from now.