When Sam emailed me about this idea of “uncoast unconference” in November 2018, I replied her email within five minutes with two “Yes! And Yes!” I don’t usually reply emails so quickly, but I had wished for a Midwest R conference for years.

Born in a poor family, I have always been a frugal person, even though I don’t consider myself poor any more. On the other hand, I usually don’t like traveling, either (especially by air, which is often time-consuming and costly). Sam explained the motivations of the uncoast unconference <a …