Burlington is an incredibly tight-knit community, and I'm reminded of that fact every time I return to this city for an event. A swarm of people may feel claustrophobic in any other city, but in Burlington, it feels interconnected.
I enjoyed chatting with other eclipse-watchers in the crowd about where they traveled from, who they came with, and why they were excited about the eclipse. Complete strangers mingled, snapped photos of each other, and were mindful of others' space and needs.
This kind and cooperative atmosphere made traveling to a city that doubled in size a stress-free, fun experience.