Do hyperlocal tech communities in South Florida matter?

I think these little pockets of geeks are a necessity for the community to grow on a larger scale, mostly because such hyperlocal tech communities are organic and not forced together by a planner. Real innovation happens outside the monthly meetups, it happens over a beer, or bumping into each other at the coffee shop, so living in the same area is really beneficial. Of course that doesn't mean that if people don't live close to each other none of this would happen, but it makes it easier. Think of those little pots used to grow herbs. You need to start with these little pods, packed with nutrients and made to be the perfect condition for the seeds to sprout. Then it will be easier moving them into a bigger vase or a garden.

There is certainly something magical about seeing my fellow geeks face-to-face on a regular basis, but if companies are beginning to use remote and distributed workforces, I can imagine communities becoming virtual as well. South Florida being so geographically distributed, it might be to our benefit to experiment with that model - maybe as an always-on Google Hangout. I recently had a discussion at the Planet Linux Cafe in Coral Gables regarding teleconferencing cafes together. You could go to your local connected coffeeshop to attend that meetup across town or across the country. That would combine both local and virtual elements into a single event. I'd see the Coconut Grove community in a better light if I saw people with corporate jobs and families hanging out with the young, unmarried freelancers, remoters, and dev shop folks I usually see. Miami's suburban sprawl and real estate market seem to push people apart as they grow older and more established. I want those people to stay connected and share their wisdom.