I traveled quite a bit in 2009, hitting 3 SQL Saturdays, 5 user groups and a few other events during the year. It made for a busy home life with my wife flying 25,000+ miles for her job and taking a few horse trips. Add in about 7 or 8 scout weekends through the year and it seems I was moving more often than not on the weekends throughout the year. I know I missed 3 baseball games because of travel, which is 3 more than I wanted to miss! I also cancelled SQL Saturday #23 in Louisville and SQL Connections because of conflicts with my wife’s schedule.

In 2010 I’ve already told two events in Jan that I can’t come because of vacation. My wife and I are taking a week for a long-overdue honeymoon (we never got one a decade ago) and we also have a family ski trip planned. My wife is planning on a trip in February, and between that, her birthday, and Valentine’s Day, traveling that month is out. We might be having a SQL Saturday in Denver as well, so I’m not sure I’ll get out.

November has me booked for the PASS Summit, an annual event. Be sure you use the SSC3D code when you register. That might not be the final code, but use it for now. If you can book now, you save a ton of money. Tell your boss and get them to register. They can always move the registration to another person if you leave.

Apart from that, things are somewhat open. My daughter is bugging me to go back to Pensacola for SQL Saturday #22 , which is around her birthday. With TechEd 2010 the next week, it might make sense for me to go down there and then go to the Big Easy for a few days at least.

I just say SQL Saturday #35 in Dallas is set for May 22, and I had tentatively committed to that. Tim Mitchell is a friend and runs it. I have to be sure it’s not graduation weekend as my oldest son leaves high school in 2010 and I can’t miss that.

I am assuming I’ll be renewed as an MVP for Microsoft, and I’d like to go back to the MVP Summit. It’s a good time for me to contact people and catch up with the Microsofties.

There’s also a few other events:

• SQLConnections Spring – I’ve still never been and while I don’t think we’ll sponsor a track here, I’d like to see the event and decide if I think we should do the fall show.
• Utah User Groups – I’ve been telling TJay Belt that I’ll come out sometime. I’d like to hit ski season, so I’ll see if I can get a trip in March, but this year is not looking good.
• SQL Saturday – There are quite a few, especially Charlotte, that I’d like to attend. Unfortunately they’re bunched up. Once again Jan is popular with Tampa, Boston, and Richmond putting them on. Portland conflicts with Dallas, and I’m sure a few more will come about. I’m not sure how many I’ll get to here.

I’m sure some other things will come up. I’ll likely skip speaking at the user groups, but try to convince a few others to do so instead and give them support that way.