Our mission: Meet members and pick their brains.
The outcome: A whole lot more than just tips for Tripod.

Last week, I was one of four Tripodians who toured the east coast, meeting members in Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC. We gave them a free dinner and a bag of goodies in exchange for a completed survey and the chance to ask them what they think about Tripod. We figured this would be a great way to find out where we stand with our members — are we giving them what they want and need? I ended up learning a lot more than I thought I would: About myself, my job, and the type of person I want to be.

Wow! That sounds pretty heavy, I know! But it actually was pretty amazing. Sometimes it takes getting away from home and talking to complete strangers to really see yourself and your situation from a different angle. This was the perfect opportunity to do just that.

It makes me nervous and claustrophobic just thinking about New York City. When I'm there, I'm a sponge. I absorb everything around me, and in about two days, I'm ready to go crazy. Meeting members from New York really made me think about where I live, and the place from where I hail. At dinner in New York, I sat next to Jacki72. We got into a conversation comparing NYC and Williamstown. We spent most of the time contrasting, not comparing, the two. After we'd discussed Billsville for a bit, she asked me where I was from. "Stowe, Vermont," I admitted self-consciously.

"I knew it!" she replied.

"I look like a country bumpkin trying to be 'city,' don't I?"

"No, you just look different."

"But everyone looks different in this city!"

"Yeah, but you look healthy or something. There's a glow in your cheeks, you're not wearing makeup ... it's not a bad thing."

"I know. I've been teased all my life about growing up in rural Vermont. In college, I had a friend who called me 'farm fresh.' I've stopped being offended, and have started taking it as a compliment."

"You should! But I could never live in the country."

"And I could never live in New York! I guess we're where we belong!"

I may have missed more than my share of pop-culture references in college, but I'm okay with that. I grew up hiking in my backyard, building snow forts in my driveway, and watching the seasons change all around me. That doesn't mean that I haven't visited cities or lived in other countries. In college, I spent my junior year abroad at Oxford, and I traveled to Russia and Greece when I was in high school. I was lucky.

Now that I've come to terms with the fact that I grew up in rural Vermont, I'm flattered when people tell me I look like I'm from the country. It's taken awhile to feel that way — the city is so glam, so sophisticated. I just need to keep watching TV (read: MTV) and I'll be fine.

After New York, we headed to another big city — Washington, DC. Now that city I can handle. I think I'd like to live there at some point. Not only do I like the parks and open spaces, but I also really dig the political atmosphere. That's one of the things that really struck me when I met the DC members. The four folks who were there are all different — their jobs, interests, and Web sites are all very diverse. There's one thing that ties them together, though — their daily lives are all somewhat political. One of our members works for a firm that helps low-income families get mortgages; another works at a Web company that builds sites for nonprofit organizations; still another has created a Web site that helps nurses nationwide find clinics and jobs.

I'm not sure if the members were all like this before they moved to DC, or if the city is simply full of these opportunities. I want to live somewhere like that. Don't get me wrong — I love the Berkshires and the quiet life I'm afforded here, but sometimes I want to be in a place where everyone is doing something about their political beliefs. I want to work to make this country better, to help serve the underprivileged, to make a difference. It was really inspiring to meet people in DC who are incorporating their social ideals into their work and daily lives. Sometime soon, I'll be there too, shaking up the world a bit. Remember this name — Anna Groskin.