While last preparations for the 8th HiveFest are underway on the other side of the ocean, I'm taking a few days off at the beach here in Portugal.A week without a computer and limited internet access is currently the recipe for a restful vacation. However, I'm eager for the kick off a new HiveFest, and the desire to join in, raise a toast, and feel the vibe of this community is growing. I considered to participate, but distance and budget constraints made me decline. (Also, I have been recently in Brazil and Argentina,and getting back to the south hemisphere would be too demanding.)