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The problem with attending conventions (such as Anthrocon)
3 days ago
General
Been awhile since making one of these. But something I need to address regarding conventions and such and why I have issues on attending one, even despite I'm attending a few NAICs.
Travel is a big reason why, the only reason I go to NAIC is only because 3 of the 4 NAIC cons I attended (2024, 2025, & (soon to be) 2026) just happened to be hosted in my hometown (New Orleans, LA), which makes things a whole lot easier for me, since I don't have to spend money on gas, hotel, food, and all that. If it (NAIC) was hosted anywhere else, it would be a really tough challenge for me in terms of traveling. I have only 1 week off for vacation from work, and if I travel, that will leave me far fewer days, like there is some occasions I would like to travel to Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, PA, but both the time and financials is, you can say, not really best friends with me. I experienced this when I attended NAIC in 2016 which was hosted in Columbus, OH. That was a huge drive for me, I'm talking about a 1,000 mile drive, just gas and food along the way alone took a good chunk out of my wallet, combined with everything I got at the convention, and other stuff that went on around town, I spent like thousands and thousands of dollars that I was not expecting, plus, the time I spend in Columbus for NAIC 2016, I only spent 4 days, because it takes me almost an entire day worth of traveling (to and from), so Pittsburgh would be a similar situation.
You ask yourselves... "Why not fly from New Orleans to Pittsburgh for Anthrocon", the problem with that is, like I stated, Financials isn't on my side. Sure, the cost between both cities, roundtrip would be around $500, which honestly, isn't too bad, but I also have to factor the cost of a hotel room which would probably be another couple of hundred of dollars, renting a car which will be another $500, and the cost of food might cost even more, and on top of the stuff I would pay at the convention, which would be god knows how much. The only reason I'm lucky with NAIC (this year, last year, and the year before) is because like I said, it's hosted in my hometown, so I can do a short drive from my house to the convention center (and back), I can just eat at my house, so that's like a thousands of dollars saved right there, so I only have to spend money at the convention.
Maybe some day in the future, when I have gotten along with my financials, then maybe, just maybe, I might travel to Pittsburgh one day and attend Anthrocon, but until that day comes, it's just not happening, even know I like to, even if I can this year's Anthrocon, it wouldn't happened because I already got my week off set for NAIC.
Travel is a big reason why, the only reason I go to NAIC is only because 3 of the 4 NAIC cons I attended (2024, 2025, & (soon to be) 2026) just happened to be hosted in my hometown (New Orleans, LA), which makes things a whole lot easier for me, since I don't have to spend money on gas, hotel, food, and all that. If it (NAIC) was hosted anywhere else, it would be a really tough challenge for me in terms of traveling. I have only 1 week off for vacation from work, and if I travel, that will leave me far fewer days, like there is some occasions I would like to travel to Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, PA, but both the time and financials is, you can say, not really best friends with me. I experienced this when I attended NAIC in 2016 which was hosted in Columbus, OH. That was a huge drive for me, I'm talking about a 1,000 mile drive, just gas and food along the way alone took a good chunk out of my wallet, combined with everything I got at the convention, and other stuff that went on around town, I spent like thousands and thousands of dollars that I was not expecting, plus, the time I spend in Columbus for NAIC 2016, I only spent 4 days, because it takes me almost an entire day worth of traveling (to and from), so Pittsburgh would be a similar situation.
You ask yourselves... "Why not fly from New Orleans to Pittsburgh for Anthrocon", the problem with that is, like I stated, Financials isn't on my side. Sure, the cost between both cities, roundtrip would be around $500, which honestly, isn't too bad, but I also have to factor the cost of a hotel room which would probably be another couple of hundred of dollars, renting a car which will be another $500, and the cost of food might cost even more, and on top of the stuff I would pay at the convention, which would be god knows how much. The only reason I'm lucky with NAIC (this year, last year, and the year before) is because like I said, it's hosted in my hometown, so I can do a short drive from my house to the convention center (and back), I can just eat at my house, so that's like a thousands of dollars saved right there, so I only have to spend money at the convention.
Maybe some day in the future, when I have gotten along with my financials, then maybe, just maybe, I might travel to Pittsburgh one day and attend Anthrocon, but until that day comes, it's just not happening, even know I like to, even if I can this year's Anthrocon, it wouldn't happened because I already got my week off set for NAIC.
