I am trying to make sense of this year, this pandemic year.  It did create for me an opportunity to see that it was possible to pull off a great ham radio event, virtually.  The lessons for me and the people that helped me were huge.  One of the things that I learned is that there are a large number of hams that will not go to live events, even if there was not a virus, due to their location, their means,  their age, or their health.  The Expo was an opportunity to increase their ham radio knowledge, reach out to exhibitors, and potentially make new friends.  

I titled this message, "The Gap Year" because traditionally, the gap year is that year between high school and college, where if you could, you traveled abroad, took a Eurail Pass to travel in Europe, or took a year of study.  You were out of your element, in a different place and time, away from your friends and family.  You were there to experience something new and different.  It was, for many young people, transformational. 

This pandemic year feels like the gap year to me.  My friends and family are at the end of Zoom or Skype. My relationships outside of my marriage are literally at two arms length, out of reach, for now.  My only public mixing is swimming laps in a pool 3 times a week.  I am told that the chlorine kills the virus.  Perfectly safe.  Locker room - not safe.  Wear my mask from the car to the pool.  Use my Corona Virus App to file the daily statement that I don't have symptoms or a fever to be allowed into the pool.  Straight forward, but strange. 

Most of the things that I like to do include people, often lots of people.  The physical presence of people, lots of people, is potentially dangerous.  By calling this a gap year, I have hope that it will end, and we will all be back in our element,  including live ham radio events.  I will be there, if possible, when this gap year is over. 

I got to know Michael Walker, VA3MW, during the Expo because FlexRadio was one of our Gold Sponsors.  Michael was also a speaker in the Expo.  As part of my continuing to tell ham radio stories of the Expo speakers, Michael is telling his ham radio story this week.  I know that you will enjoy this QSO Today with Michael, and hope that you will reach out to him if you have a ham radio question.  

73, Eric 4Z1UG