I spent last weekend in what has to be the most beautiful place on earth, with 27 of the smartest, funniest women on the Internet. Ironically, we were in a place where internet and cell phone reception were spotty at best, which meant that we actually had to talk to each other instead of just Twittering about each other.

That was a good thing, because these are women you absolutely want to talk to. For as long as you possibly can.

We tasted fabulous wine and ate delicious food (taco truck! Brussels sprouts! and OMG the cheese!). And we talked and talked and talked, about our children and our shoes and our work and our hair and everything else you can imagine. We made up terms to describe the wine — feisty! flirty! obnoxious! — and laughed more than the moment really required.

On Friday night, while we were sitting by the pool relaxing, Gabby said, “So what’s your next big project?” And I found myself stumbling to come up with an answer. For so long I’ve been struggling to balance the projects I currently have on my desk, the writing and editing and everything else I am contractually obligated to do. I get up every morning and make a to do list and work my way through it and fall into bed and get up and do the same thing again. There’s no time to think about projects.

Except that now I’m wondering: What will my next big project be?

Broad Summit gave me a chance to stop and think about the next big project. I spent the weekend surrounded by women who inspire me, sharing stories and theories and pants (ok, only Melissa shared her pants, but it was all in the spirit of … something) and all of that laughter and talking inspired me to really think, about what I do and how I do it.

Getting out of the rut of my everyday life, and going to place where there were massages and yoga and wine tastings at 10 am was wonderful. But it was the moments when I wasn’t being pampered — when I was being compelled to think smart, and fast — that made the weekend worthwhile.

Thanks again (and again) to the Broads, for organizing this weekend, and to the wonderful sponsors, who made it all happen.