Happy Post Anthrocon everybody!

I'd like to start off by saying to all of my friends who couldn't make it this year, I missed you. I don't go to the con for panels, but to party and socialize instead. But for me at least this was a fantastic Anthrocon. An easy 8/10 if not higher. Let me count the ways. . .

I always prepare months ahead of time by booking a hotel room. I normally go for a 4 man room with me, my boyfriend, my oldest furry friend and then a slot to fill for four nights, that way everyone pays for one night. And since I make the reservations it means that I've already paid for my night with the room deposit. I prefer the Omni- It's relatively close to the con center so I get some exercise, clean rooms, nice staff. Also Starbucks in the lobby doesn't hurt. Westin is just very crowded and the Courtyard gets bought out almost immediately, I like to think by fursuiters and vendors, so I'm perfectly fine with a 3 block distance.

This year instead of the one year I brought far too much alcohol, we brought a few 2 liters full of a couple tasty mixed drinks. Plus a bottle of Baileys to keep people who wanted less fruity stuff happy. I also brought my vape stuff- working at a store with employee discounts is really good at keeping me well stocked in mods and juices, so I was happy to let people sample the things I brought!

All of the vaping and socialization aside, plus some of the kickass stands in the Dealer's Den this year, there was the people who really made it special. Old friends that I see every year that I got to chill with, plus some friends who got to come this year and I got to share meals and was able to spend time with! Drunken nights of Cards Against Humanity and SuperFight, passing out glowsticks to strangers and just catching up after a year of no face to face contact.

I also introduced a friend to the fandom as my fourth in the room this year. A good friend, the boyfriend and I decided that going to a con would be a great first big outing experience for him. We were right. Oh boy, were we right. Took 24 hours for him to go full furry. He got a tail, met a couple of AWESOME friends, now my friends too, and as he put it, 'felt like he could simply exist'. Frankly, watching him be so at ease with big crowds and strangers and just really come out of his shell was magical. He's already stated he's going back next year. I might just need to book a bigger room!

Other friends, I really wasn't expecting to see. They came out of the blue, I hadn't seen them in years and we reconnected. I'm looking forward to rekindling these old friendships and holding them close. Even though we grew apart in the past, I never gave up hope I'd hear from them again. Now that channels of communication are open once more, I will certainly take advantage of them.

It wasn't all sunshine and lollipops though. There is always drama when furries gather. Minor room infighting, a bad first impression here or there. No blows were reached, but I feel there was a lack of understanding reached as well. Troubling, but not enough to derail my high spirits. Also, turns out the convention center has new policies for the waterfront, barring entry and gatherings from taking place down by the water at around midnight. Apparently, it's for some kind of insurance thing, but really I just think there may have been complaints about the noise, or the smell. Lot of people smoking weed down at the waterfront this year. I don't have an issue about the pot, but surely people can be smarter than just setting up a literal bong circle in front of one of the security cameras? Smoke your green, just be smarter about it. Please.

So that was my con! It was a good convention, one I doubt I'll be forgetting anytime soon. Since getting employed, it means I have much more in the way of cash to save up for conventions... possibly more than just the one a year! I've also decided that AC is going to be a marking point, sort of a New Year celebration for me. And that includes with resolutions. The last two years I've gotten two big commissions that I gave the artists one full year to finish, and worked alongside them for those projects with very positive results. This year I've decided to try and go for something a little different. Instead of a commission, I'd like to try and improve myself. It feels better to set that start point in the middle of the year than at the end, especially since Anthrocon is a very inspirational setting for me.

So my plans and goals for the next year (or next couple of years) are as follows:
1. Get into the habit of working out- not trying to become ripped, but to just make a habit of taking better care of myself and reaping the rewards that follow. This also includes some minor changes in diet to better further this goal.
2. Look into fursuits. I'm thinking I'll start with a partial. My character isn't complex, and the head would probably be the only thing that requires strenuous detail, so I've got high hopes for this one. Preferably at a price that doesn't financially cripple me.
3. Misc. - I know there's more I want to do, but It'll be far more on the backburner than the first two. Studying auras more, learning some new skills or finding a new hobby. Just becoming more interesting to myself in general.

That's all from me for now. Don't be strangers, and I'll post again some other time! Ta!