One Half Buddhist, One Half Christian, One Half Pagan

Trying to decide if I should do Readercon or the Clearwater Festival this year.

Admission is more for Clearwater, but food and shelter will be more at Readercon.

Just like last year, this year's Readercon was... mixed. The panels were wonderful, and the Bad Prose competition on Saturday night was hysterical. However, the time that I wasn't at a panel was not so great.

Everyone at Readercon seems to be more interested in hanging out with old friends than in making new ones. There are very few public parties, the con-suite is small, and generally people don't act very approachable. Now, part of that was almost certainly me. I'm not at my best when I'm surrounded by strangers, and when those strangers all seem to already be friends... I start feeling invisible and defensive and probably give off a "don't talk to me" vibe. It brings back bad memories of middle and high school.

Anyway, for next year I need to decide if the amazing panels are worth the rest of the time.

I'll be in Boston, attending ReaderCon. I won't have any internet access while I'm there. I will have my phone with me, but probably won't be answering it during the day. If it's not urgent leave a message and I'll call back between panels, if it is urgent text me something like "call ASAP" or "emergency" and I'll call you as soon as I can.

I'll be back home sometime Sunday evening.

It was mostly pretty good. The panels were great, and the "Game Show" Saturday night was hysterical. My room was nice, with a truly decadent number of pillows, and the restaurant in the hotel was good.

However, the times when I wasn't at a panel, sleeping, or eating were... a little lonely. I'm still very new to science fiction conventions and don't really know anybody in "the scene." There are a few people who's LJ's I read who were there, but I didn't really feel comfortable approaching them because as far as I know they don't read my LJ and therefore they have no idea who I am.

I think next time I go to a con I'm going to bring Set, and whenever I start to feel the need to talk to someone I'll start playing in a public place. The game makes a great icebreaker.

The next con (that I've heard of) that sounds interesting is Philcon, in Philidelphia in November.

I'm going.

Readercon is this weekend. I really want to go. It's about a 3 hour drive, it's in budget (as long as I don't end up paying too much more than the posted price for a hotel room), and I don't think I have anything else planned for this weekend.

For some reason though, I'm waffling about it.

I need to decide if I'm going to ReaderCon soon. The con itself is only $35 dollars (as long as I register before the end of the month), but the hotel is $102 per night! If I go for the whole thing, and don't share a room w/anybody, that could get awful pricey...


I'll give myself another week to make up my mind.