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Further Confusion
16 years ago
I had a great time at FC this year!
I had been kinda worried about it. Everything has changed in my life, and I knew that was going to make going to the con a very different experience. My usual patterns weren't going to be available. And I really wasn't sure what to do now.
Well, for the first couple of days, I stumbled. The new hotel is very oppressively noisy. Unlike the old hotel, the new one has no quiet pockets at all. I tried all day to find anywhere to get away from the cacophony with no success. The place is simply designed for 100% hustle and bustle as if the designer could see no reason why anyone would ever want a quiet moment away from the crowd under any circumstance.
The place certainly isn't designed for introverts!
I found that I was doing pretty good at first. But by the end of the day, the crowd and noise got to me, and I found myself stunned and just blanking out.
Friday worked out a bit better, but I still fell down later in the day.
However, by Saturday, I'd fairly figured out how to approach the con without getting crushed.
It's been very helpful to me to learn more about my introversion and understand how and why I'm affected this way. My need for quiet times alone is not something I can ignore... I blank out, freak out, and crash if I don't get it. I realize now that I was taking these sorts of breaks and things before, but not consciously aware that I was doing it or feeling guilty about doing it.
Anyway, a big theme for me has been reconnecting. With the recent restructuring of my life, I've felt like I've lost whatever ties I had to most of the furries I know. Heck, I wondered how many of them would even want anything to do with me anymore. I'd hoped FC would be good for rebuilding connections anew... and more directly this time. Maybe these people really would be interested in knowing me for me, and not just who I was with.
The con was rather successful for that. I certainly didn't get the chance to hang out with all the people I really wanted to. Or to hang out with them as much as I wanted to.
I got to spend a lot of time with
Skadjer. And 
Losian and 
WindDragon. I got the chance to get to know those latter two a lot better. Skadjer and I are very close friends already.
I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with
Royelle as I wanted. I was a bit bummed actually. But I did get to have some really good times there.
Royelle introduced me to
Sarmanikan. I liked Sarmy, but didn't end up getting to hang out much. I kinda worry Sarmy may think I wasn't as interested as I was. But anyway, Royelle, Sarmy, and crew seemed to be doing their own stuff I just wasn't much a part of. So I kinda gave up after a while.
And
Raith_dw, 
Athus, and 
Narse... I only barely got to see. Which sucked! I totally wanted to hang out with them more again this year. Oh well.
Oh! And I got to meet
Ember_the_dragon finally! We'd done so much stuff together online, yet I'd never met the boy till now. I got a real life emberhug. I am complete and one with the universe now.
I connected with
Skandranon again at the end of the con, which made me feel better. A misunderstanding the first day had me thinking he had no interest in talking to me anymore.
I could go on listing people I guess. But I've droned on long enough.
In the end, I really had a great time. And I really enjoyed doing the con with my wonderful gryphoness,
Jaelyn. It was great tugging her around on a leash and showing her off. :)
I had to keep remembering to introduce her to people! I'm so used to being the obscure one myself. She had to keep tugging on my jacket to remind me to tell people who she was. My life is so different now. Much to get used to. But... I think I can get very used to introducing my pet gryphoness with pride.
I had been kinda worried about it. Everything has changed in my life, and I knew that was going to make going to the con a very different experience. My usual patterns weren't going to be available. And I really wasn't sure what to do now.
Well, for the first couple of days, I stumbled. The new hotel is very oppressively noisy. Unlike the old hotel, the new one has no quiet pockets at all. I tried all day to find anywhere to get away from the cacophony with no success. The place is simply designed for 100% hustle and bustle as if the designer could see no reason why anyone would ever want a quiet moment away from the crowd under any circumstance.
The place certainly isn't designed for introverts!
I found that I was doing pretty good at first. But by the end of the day, the crowd and noise got to me, and I found myself stunned and just blanking out.
Friday worked out a bit better, but I still fell down later in the day.
However, by Saturday, I'd fairly figured out how to approach the con without getting crushed.
It's been very helpful to me to learn more about my introversion and understand how and why I'm affected this way. My need for quiet times alone is not something I can ignore... I blank out, freak out, and crash if I don't get it. I realize now that I was taking these sorts of breaks and things before, but not consciously aware that I was doing it or feeling guilty about doing it.
Anyway, a big theme for me has been reconnecting. With the recent restructuring of my life, I've felt like I've lost whatever ties I had to most of the furries I know. Heck, I wondered how many of them would even want anything to do with me anymore. I'd hoped FC would be good for rebuilding connections anew... and more directly this time. Maybe these people really would be interested in knowing me for me, and not just who I was with.
The con was rather successful for that. I certainly didn't get the chance to hang out with all the people I really wanted to. Or to hang out with them as much as I wanted to.
I got to spend a lot of time with
Skadjer. And 
Losian and 
WindDragon. I got the chance to get to know those latter two a lot better. Skadjer and I are very close friends already.I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with
Royelle as I wanted. I was a bit bummed actually. But I did get to have some really good times there.Royelle introduced me to
Sarmanikan. I liked Sarmy, but didn't end up getting to hang out much. I kinda worry Sarmy may think I wasn't as interested as I was. But anyway, Royelle, Sarmy, and crew seemed to be doing their own stuff I just wasn't much a part of. So I kinda gave up after a while.And
Raith_dw, 
Athus, and 
Narse... I only barely got to see. Which sucked! I totally wanted to hang out with them more again this year. Oh well.Oh! And I got to meet
Ember_the_dragon finally! We'd done so much stuff together online, yet I'd never met the boy till now. I got a real life emberhug. I am complete and one with the universe now.I connected with
Skandranon again at the end of the con, which made me feel better. A misunderstanding the first day had me thinking he had no interest in talking to me anymore.I could go on listing people I guess. But I've droned on long enough.
In the end, I really had a great time. And I really enjoyed doing the con with my wonderful gryphoness,
Jaelyn. It was great tugging her around on a leash and showing her off. :)I had to keep remembering to introduce her to people! I'm so used to being the obscure one myself. She had to keep tugging on my jacket to remind me to tell people who she was. My life is so different now. Much to get used to. But... I think I can get very used to introducing my pet gryphoness with pride.
I haven't met Ember yet, but
I saw your art in the art show. Actually thought about bidding on one of your pieces, which is unusual for me. (I've never bought anything in an artshow and usually don't even consider bidding. Not because I don't love art and porn, but because I just don't do auctions. I steer clear of eBay, too)
I think I got to say hello to you very briefly at some point during the con.
I'm the one who pointed to your badge at the end of the ADP and said Sir look! Its that person whose name we couldn't pronounce that we saw in the art show! LOL And then I asked if you had prints and you said to stop by the table with the Navi head in Artist's Alley. :3
There's such a flurry of faces at cons. I'm often feeling guilty about not immediately recognizing or remembering people. Sometimes my memory needs jogging. I envy the people that remember the names of everyone they've ever met like it's nothing.
But anyway, you've been around like since the beginning or something. So the name 'beachfox' is on my recognition list, you know? I'd have given ya a hug. :)
And I agree. You're just on my short list of instant-recognize because A) You're quite distinctive and B) Your house hosted my last proper run of 'Player, not GM' gaming back in 2000-2001. Usually I'm squinting at badges and wishing that everyone had their FA icon pasted to their forehead.
Next time I'll try and over-ride the Socialize-Meter and give a proper hello.
D.O.P.R
I think more then anything, a lack of time and the absence of a more intimate environment (as opposed to the general con crush) is what marred a lot of meetings this time around. Here's to hope that the next time will be a little easier.
D.O.P.R
Can't say I didn't have fun myself, though I would've liked to have met a few more furs. Being my first con, it was a bit harder than I had expected to hook up with people. So I'd have to agree that the first couple of days were slow, but by Saturday things really picked up and it was a good con :)
Heh.
Actually, you've been quite a comfort for me over the years. And I really appreciate your friendship.
And, well, that's very nice of you to say. It's touching, even! And despite the nature of our initial meeting, and our frequent delightful deviances, I feel the same way. Especially after meeting at the first FC I ever attended. :)
Thank you for making my con awesome.
Yeah, having at least some down time to decompress during all the hustle and bustle of a furry convention is important. Went to AC for the first time last year and it was a whirlwind of activity. Funny how you go into these conventions thinking you may not have enough to do, then wind up not doing half the stuff you wanted!
Hopefully see you and Jaelyn at AC this year.
Sorry I didn't get to bump into you, but thank you for adding to the ADP: it was a blast seeing how your art has improved:)
I'm going to do some more work on my paintings before I submit them here.
I did quick temporary backgrounds on all of them just to get them done in time for the ADP. I meant to mention that at the panel, but I think I forgot to. I was kinda embarrassed of how half assed my backgrounds were.
you're welcome: and they actually looked good compared to many other artists I've seen: I especially loved "my bitch" , with the poses and her head lowered, and the answering "love you, sir!"
I'm sorry I missed it now!