The lectures, labs, and seminars you attend at conferences can be immensely valuable. You'll return home with some good ideas, useful techniques, new perspectives, and additional insights. It's worth going to a conference just for what you can get out of the classes. But what I found when I sat down at the bar that Friday afternoon was that chatting with other developers provided all that and more. When I did talk to other developers, I not only got ideas and insights from classes I hadn't attended, but I also got a huge shot of enthusiasm.
Developers are a lot alike and a lot unlike most other folks.
Being able to talk programming with others like me but who faced different problems, challenges, and constraints was enlightening and great fun. Since then, I've attended many conferences and even spoken at several. In doing so, I recharge my psychic batteries with new enthusiasm and delight for this crazy profession. If you can find any way to do so, go to a conference in the next year.