Did I miss out - again?

I awoke this morning to lots of tweets from people heading to their various homes after a trip to SXSW. I really wanted to go. Last year I said I'd go this year, and yes, this year I'm saying I'll go next. But this time I mean it.

Seriously. No really, I'm in a much better position to do it. I'm not studying anymore so haven't go any exams to worry about (I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that for the firs time in oh, about 20 year, I won't have an exam on, or just by my birthday - June 8th), I'm working at an extremely cool company in a job I love, and because of that, have a) the means to travel, and b) an option to make it into a work trip and research and blog and that kind of stuff. Look, basically I'm saying I'm going.

Anyway! I digress. Along with these going-home-tweets, were a number of other tweets. Tweets that worry me. Tweets about the festival being too big, or that advertising was far too abundant, and that maybe, it just sucks now. Then I watched this CNN video and thought that yes, it does look rather....well, different to what I had seen previously. 

I was sad. Have I missed the peak? I felt the same way about Glastonbury. I was meant to go in '95 and didn't, and went last year (2010) instead. 15 years - fifteen years - later! Of course it wasn't the same. There was no way it could be, and oddly enough, even though I had never been, I knew it wasn't the same. The feeling, the type of people, the size, the amount on offer - it was mass catering in every way. Don't get me wrong - it was incredible, and I'm off again this year.

And it's that point that makes me think that when I do go to SXSW (and I will!), I'll love it. Yes, it might have changed. Yes, there will be old-timers naysaying and all that, but what do I know? It'll all be new to me really, and let's face it, when you live in Denmark - Austin, Texas in March is OK in my book. 

So roll on SXSW 2012! I'm a SXSW virgin. I've got nowt to measure it against.