splinter

This thread has been thought provoking. I don't think it's accurate to say that taking a "backyard approach" keeps one from increasing their technical skill. I believe that a monk atop the highest mountain living in seclusion, could keep improving his technical skills. It's not about who you see in bonsai social settings, conventions that you go to, or if you have been fortunate enough to have met a bonsai master. Obviously the more access one has to numbers of people who are experienced in bonsai, the more information will be filed into your head. Just because the information is accessible, doesn't mean the person will know what to do with it. Everyone is different with the way they look at things or respond to things, so thinking of someone only being able to increase their bonsai knowledge through interactions with others, is a bit short sighted. In fact, usually a lot of time is lost on trivial BS-ing whenever a large group of people get together for anything - whether it be for a bonsai function or a conference meeting.

I'm not trying to be pessimistic about clubs, shows, or conventions...I'm just giving another point of view.

Marsha