Thanks ET, I'll check it out
Rupert - hard to describe exactly what I'd hope to gain - I don't need an SEO because, as you say, I have you guys - if I have an seo specific problem or many business problems I can get an answer here. However in some circumstances we are all very hard edged. If its a case of dealing with a client who won't do something, or a colleague who absolutely refuses to compromise, the answer here will generally be 'sack them' or 'tell them x,y,z' which might be the *correct* answer from a purely logical viewpoint, but doesn't really solve the problem. Equally my other half and most of my offline friends work in a totally different field so their answers aren't agency, or even marketing, viewpoints.
Colleagues can sometimes help but some things can't be discussed with workmates (like other colleagues!). My bosses are amazing and supportive but sometimes its not a training course or a discussion about the business plan that I need.....
I have a mate who's on the edge of this industry who has a mentor who he meets for dinner every couple of months, tells him how things are going, listens to some sage and dispassionate advice, and comes away feeling like he's got his head sorted out. Thats sort of what I want - I don't necessarily need career advancement (although someone to weigh pro's and cons of certain moves would be helpful), I don't want someone who knows everyone I know, and they don't need to provide me with a career plan or suggest a mantra for me, just sort of help me keep on the right tracks and see the wood for the trees sometimes.
Does that make sense?