Our second annual gathering
Ok, people are getting antsy, so we gotta figure out the whens and
wheres about our next gathering. So I'm going to start the debate
and throw out some ideas. What this means is, I'm going to be giving
you MY take and opinions on the next North Tx gathering, based on my
specific situation, and we all need to hear from everyone else so we
can make some decisions.
So..... We could have a gathering in the D/FW area like we did last
February. But we've had an offer of the use of a private house in
Houston as well, so we could do a gathering there. Or do two TX
gatherings in the upcoming year - one in Houston, one in Dallas. Or,
heck, more than two, if anyone wants to put one together. O.k.,
here's where my personal stuff comes in.....
The advantages to a Dallas gathering:
1.) It's close for the locals
2.) We could rent a place VERY well equipped.
3.) We've done this before, so we know kind of know the routine.
The disadvanteages to a Dallas gathering:
1.) We have to shell out $$ for a place. (no one locally has
volunteered to host in their home and us apartment dwellers have such
little space...)
2.) The place we rented last time didn't have any smaller rooms for
private play with just one or two people, which made acting out
fantasies a little difficult and some shy people uncomfortable,
having to face their interest 'publically' for the first time and
ending up with many eyes (and fingers) upon them.
3.) For non-locals it means travel.
4.) We can only play on one specific day, for about 6 hours, if we
rent the same place we did last time.
The advantages to a Houston gathering.
1.) The place is free
2.) We can play for a few DAYS, not a few hours
3.) More privacy
4.) For some out of towners, it's less of a hassle to get there.
5.) Possibly a bigger turn out since Houston has a bigger DBSM
subculture and the lure of a private house has people from outside TX
interested.
6.) I have 'vanilla' friends there I could visit.
The disadvantages to a Houston gathering....
1.) The travel involved for the locals, accomodations, etc.
2.) Don't know about the equipment situation.
Now, speaking ONLY for myself, if we have a gathring this coming
year, I will attend, but probably cannot shell out the money to co-
host (some of you know my situation; all I can say is, never lend
money to friends!). So if we rent a place, I probably can't cover
costs like Marc and I did in February. Is anyone else willing to?
Now if we have a gathering in Houston, my finances will still be
tight, but if I have the choice of playing in Dallas for a few hours
or Houston for a FEW DAYS with more privacy, I gotta go with
Houston. Both will cost me money, but for the $$ I'm going to spend,
Houston will be a better deal for me personally. And we can STILL
have a Dallas gathering. So this leads to "when".
Again, going only by my schedule, I have the most freedom in January
and late August. We could do a gathering in Houston in January
(although New Years Eve isn't an option, and there's another
gathering on Superbowl weekend in Albany - not that there'd probably
be much of a conflict). I could also do a gathering in Houston in
August, since I'm free and this house has a pool, which would be
GREAT in our TX heat..... my problem then is that, although I'm free
in August, I never know specifically when I'm getting time off. So,
speaking for myself, I could attend a Dallas tickling gathering in
January or February, and attend another one in August in Houston, OR
I could attend a gathering in Houston in January and do another one
in Dallas in August. Or just one or the other. What are YOUR
thoughts?
I should note that when I brought up a Houston gathering in the past
I had literally equal support in numbers for and against. For all
those who didn't want to travel, and equal number did - and I must
add that there seemed to be more women willing to do the Houston
gathering since the place would have more privacy, so keep that in
mind. On the TMF chat they seemed to be pretty interested in
Houston, including one woman who's willing to come in from Colorado.
And keep in mind that none of this precludes you all from pulling a
gathering together - if you want it to happen, go for it!
So - talk amoungst yourselves and let this group know what your
thoughts are so we can put something together!
BTW - what should we call our "gatherings?" TEST?
