You may have noticed that I’ve attempted to start blogging again, after a long break. Yes, long overdue, but also with good reason. The last few months = nutzo.

In the last 6 months, I’ve started a new job, traveled to 4 continents in 4 weeks, rode a camel, smoked a hookah, returned home to an emergency appendectomy, had my Godmother pass away, and most recently, find out that my company has been purchased by the largest oilfield services company in the WORLD. Any guesses?

So to say the least, I’ve been a little preoccupied.

However, I still haven’t mentioned the one thing that has taken up most of my brain power, sweat, energy, and heart: a little beauty called Caroline. And she’s lovely.

I know that some of you reading this have been hearing me for months talk about this project, and I’m ecstatic to say, she has arrived.

This week, tenants began moving into the Caroline Collective, A coworking facility in Houston’s museum district, that I have been helping to bring to fruition over the past few months. I know many of you have heard the story of her conception, and seen the progress of her completion, but for those of you who have not, let me explain further.

Coworking has become a global phenomena in the last few years. A concept that takes freelance, independent workers out of an isolated work environment, such as a home office, and surrounds them with access to a community of like-minded individuals, all the while providing them with resources of a corporate office space.

Over the last 2 decades, the corporate worker has more and more sought opportunities to become independent from an organization, and become their own boss. In the process, according to entreprenuer.com, in the U.S., over 14 million homes operate a home-based business.

However, as the entreprenuer moves out of the corporate office, and into a home environment such as a home office or coffee shop, they begin to lose a sense of collaboration and community. Thus, the birth of Coworking.

Coworking’s official definition, “a cafe-like community collaboration space for developers, writers, independents and anyone looking for a space to conduct their work in an environment alternative to the traditional working office,” describes the concept. If I were to pull one work to highlight from that definition, it would be “community.” As the basis and successes of coworking spaces around the world, hinge on the importance of community.

Providing tenants with private office space, open desk space, wireless internet, conference room facilities, coffee, secured parking, quick access to Downtown, Midtown, Museum District, and the Medical Center, Caroline Collective is a revolutionary concept for Houston, that is sure to impact the social make-up of the city’s workforce.

As I compose this post, one of Caroline’s first tenants, is documenting his move into the space via Twitter and Brightkite. A very emotional, exciting step for those of us who have seen this idea move from a glimmer in the eye of Matthew Wettergreen and Ned Dodington, to a space full of handmade desks, and walls splattered with blue paint by volunteers Houston’s own community. A bit surreal, and a bit overwhelming.

Over the past few months, Caroline Collective has been covered by the Houston Chronicle, Chron.com, ArtsHouston Magazine, 002 Magazine, and various local and national blogs. Evidence that Houston is ready and willing to support this endeavor, rightfully so, as the space was created for the community, by the community.

Caroline Collective is located at 4820 Caroline, just north of the Fine Arts Museum. For a tour of the facilities, please contact me and I’d be happy to show you around.

We are planning a huge opening party on June 7th, 2008 form 7-10pm. I’ll create a dedicated post of the party, with the invite attached. So save the date!

For more information on Caroline Collective or coworking, check out these resources:

Caroline Collective website
www.carolinecollective.cc

Caroline Collective Flickr Photo Group
www.flickr.com/groups/carolinecollective/

Caroline Media Archives
http://carolinecollective.cc/category/media/

Coworking Wiki
http://coworking.pbwiki.com/

Coworking Blog
http://blog.coworking.info/