In case anyone was wondering: Not going to Readercon

[womzilla]

During my long period of underemployment and borderline depression--beginning, not even coincidentally, right around the Big Terrible--I got out of the habit of attending conventions, even the ones I really like. Since the Millennium Philcon in 2001, I believe the only conventions that I have attended are the ICFA, Alt.Polycon 9 (Baltimore, Jan 2005), and half a day of the Science Fiction Research Association conference last month in White Plains. Oh, and maybe part of a Lunacon or two.

I've gotten out of the habit of planning to go to conventions. By the time it seriously occurred to me to think about whether we could attend Readercon, we'd probably missed the window of getting on to programming and then it turned out we were overcommitted socially and financially in July anyway. Deep sigh. I very much would have liked to see many of the people there--especially grahamsleight, with whom I didn't get to spend enough time at the last ICFA and who is coming such a long way for it.

The conventions I'd most like to attend regularly or somewhat so are:

• The International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts (late March, Florida)


• Minnicon (April, Minneapolis)


• Readercon (July, greater Boston area)


• Trinoc*con (July, Durham)


• Philcon (November or early December, Phladelphia)


• LunaCon (early March, metro New Jersey--on those years that it doesn't conflict too much with the ICFA)

That doesn't actually seem excessive, especially since two of them are within easy driving distance (Readercon and Philcon); a third (Minnicon) I might be able to combine with work, since my company's headquarters is in Minneapolis; and a fourth (Trinoc*con) could be combined with a visit to my family and friends in North Carolina.

Maybe we can turn around our con-going habits this fall with Philcon.

Update: It occurs to me now a couple of hours later that I'd also love to go to a full-on gaming convention--presumably either Origins (late June) or the World Boardgaming Championships (August, Baltimore).

Update again: Capclave (metro DC, October) would also be nice. We always used to enjoy Disclave, and Capclave seems to have picked up the best parts of that.

Comments

[wild-irises.livejournal.com]

I don't do the LJ birthday thing, but I did think I would drop in here to wish you a happy one.

Miss you.

[womzilla.livejournal.com]

Likewise, likewise, and likewise!

[wouldyoueva.livejournal.com]

First of all, Happy Birthday.

Secondly, if you (plural) could manage Philcon, I'd really appreciate it, and put in a request (minus kids) to go out to eat with you. I've missed you much.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday, and it would be great to see you (and, if possible nellorat and supergee) at Philcon.

I haven't heard much about 9/11 as contributing to depression, but I know I didn't do much but read rec.arts.sf.fandom and listen to NPR for months after it happened. I also know someone who was so knocked out by it that he realized he needed help with his depression and sleep apnea.

[brithistorian.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday! And I do hope you're able to make Minicon next year, as I'd like to have a chance to meet you.

[ckd]

Seconded. Minicon's my current default out-of-town convention and probably will be the one for a while.

[sarah-ovenall.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!!! As you well know, July isn't the best time to be in Durham, but I hope you make it down here anyway!!

[avram]

Happy birthday!

Wait, how are Philcon and Readercon in easy driving distance and Lunacon not?

[womzilla.livejournal.com]

Well, you know, Jersey. And all that.

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

Ah well. Will miss seeing you (all) as well. One of these days, I promise, I'll do Readercon and then come down to NYC - though can't this year. And will be at ICFA in 2007, of course.