Thanks for your comments. You do have a point here, although I get the feeling that “themes” would be yet another attractor/variable around which to self-organize, which would serve to increase, and not decrease the complexity of the situation. From another point of view, I see the things I considered – food, lodging, etc. – as more “primary” needs, and topics for intellectual discussion as more “higher-order” needs.

Cheers
Joseph

Although not party to the events of the Friday evening, when asking myself the questions you posed (and describe above), my own particular preference would have been to have discovered some “themes” for discussion, and to have organised around that. I realise that any one solution is unlikely to appeal to but a minority of the folks involved, but I’d have been there (previous engagements otherwise permitting) to exchange ideas on certain specific topics of (hopefully) mutual interest.

Cheers
Bob