Being a Puerto Rican, mostly vegan, Anarchist, Voluntaryist woman pretty much ensures I am always outnumbered (but never outgunned 😋)... except at this conference, where for the first time, I felt true kinship with people who believe in and live for freedom.

My partner has been to all but one of these conferences, and I never quite understood why he felt so strongly about going, until I experienced it for myself.

Being surrounded by people from various walks of life, who came together because of a shared set of principles, who are actively applying these principles, and want to learn how to apply those principles...is addictive.

Out here in the world, I am always a minority, and my philosophical and political views are hot buttons for a lot of people. The mere fact that with every breath I challenge the status quo, in addition to the fact that I don't often mince my words, seems to create conflict and anger among family and friends alike. I really do believe that how I walk through the world has caused people to distance themselves from me...and that's ok. I am not one for relationships solely based on genetics and tradition.

While it is naive and unrealistic to expect to agree with anyone on everything, I now know what it feels like to be around people to whom I don't need to constantly explain and convince that I am not a violent chaotic who wants to see the world burn. I now know what it feels like to not be alienated and rejected because I know that:

• All interactions ahould be voluntary
• No one is more qualified to rule over me than myself
• Self defense is a natural right
• Politicians are crooks
• Military & police are not here for my protection
• Taxation is theft
• Statism is slavery

The list goes on but the point is that there was no head butting. No condecention and patronizing. No telling me to move to Somalia. There were a lot of conversations, suggestions, encouragement, hugs, open hearts, community...kinship.

I met so many people whose faces I had only seen online, and though I missed a few that I had hoped to at least say hi to - like Larken Rose, Derrick Broze, Carey Wedler, Sterlin Luxan, Adam Kokesh and the man that made this possible - Jeff Berwick, as soon as I stepped on to the Princess' Hotel lobby, I knew that my life, my world was about to grow ...in the best possible way.