@Ednayln - I would hardly consider Houston, TX urban as it's the 4th largest city in the United States. Directly after I stated the location that I'm in, I stated that I'm not able to relocate.

I believe the question at hand was more or less directed towards where to get started with face-to-face networking, as there's nobody I know to talk to that could help with getting my foot in the door. I haven't had time to Volunteer anywhere. I spend an upwards of 6-8 hours a day studying. Working on the small projects that I do get, and building a bigger portfolio.

I don't believe you even read my post before commenting.

I'm not able to relocate because I'm taking care of my paralyzed mother (Waist down) who's suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer. I /cannot/ relocate currently.

I'd also like to add that the rest of the Treehouse Community is usually very helpful, and I'm sorry for some of the responses you've had so far. Especially the comment from Justin Stark. If someone claims they are not able to relocate, especially when 'due to family concerns', it should be understood that there's a legitimate reason. You shouldn't have had to mention your mother's condition, and I hope Justin Stark feels embarrassed for his careless comment and decides to apologize.

Yes I do understand how many people are unwilling to relocate over what seem like the worst reasons. I have friends like that too. But it's not really fair of you to apply a generalization based on other people's reasons. Christian is not other people.

Besides, who are you to judge whether another person's reasons are acceptable or not? It's just your opinion. So what if someone doesn't want to move because they value the temporary comfort of their cat? Maybe it's silly to you or me, but it's not our place to put someone else down for what they care about. Try being more supportive instead. If someone said to you, "I can't fly", maybe suggest they try walking. Telling them they actually can fly, they just think they can't, is not very constructive.

He said he couldn't relocate due to family concerns. Concern, meaning anxiety, worry, responsibility, for his family. Knowing what a 'family concern' entails, this may give someone enough knowledge to determine it may at least be a sensitive subject, in which case a more appropriate comment would have been, "if you don't mind me asking, why are you not able to relocate?". With the vague information he provided in his original post though, the reality is that you didn't have any knowledge on the subject. His response just further proves that.

And now with this "if he's telling the truth" comment -- come on man, really? Sure, let's say he's lying, but it's still not your place to decide whether his real reasons are acceptable or not, and therefore you're comment was out of line. But I think you should go ahead and assume that he is telling the truth and just admit you shot from the hip and you missed. "Everyone makes mistakes, that's why they put erasers on pencils." The hard part is realizing it and admitting to it. "I made an assumption about your situation and was wrong about it, my bad" wouldn't be too difficult would it?

I'm sure the natural impression will be that I'm just attacking you, but I'd like for you to read this and consider the points I'm trying to make, before reacting defensively. But based on your comments I won't be surprised with how the rest of this plays out. I probably just shouldn't have said anything, so my apologies to Christian for how I helped this to escalate. Such is the nature of a forum I guess.

Condolences to his mother of course. I have to ask why he has been going so hard on programming or how he's found the time.

Thank you for editing and adding this line.

Programming is a good option for people who need to do a lot of work at home and not always at the office, and online studying can be done at home as well, so it gives him the opportunity to work towards something while still being available to help.