AF Get-Togethers

[rexbeccarox]

Hellooo fellow AF'ers!

This is a thread dedicated to those who would like to meet their AF friends IRL.

I got back from an across-the-US road trip yesterday. During my travels, I got to have beers with one of my AF friends, GalacticBusDriver, and it was great fun. On my last forum, I made a SoCal get-together thread, which was met with some interest, and a few of us actually meeting.

Here's the thing: this community is my favorite. I've been contributing to one forum or the next for almost fifteen years, and I've readily learned that there are real people behind their usernames, and they are people to be cared for. I've seen old guys with old-guy-maladies posting every day, then dropping off completely; I've seen pregnant women have their babies, then dropping off. The number of people I could easily be IRL friends with (ahem *Kay*) just going away, maybe never to be heard from again.

I've also made IRL friends with a few people from the forums in which I've participated. I generally know what's going on with those people, if superficially, in their lives. I think it's important to make face-to-face connections with them.

Here, I propose we begin collecting our people; our friends. Here, I propose to those who are comfortable, taking the superficiality out of our relationships here.

I'd like to see some get-togethers planned. Anyone is welcome to visit me here in San Diego, of course, and I also have enough freedom to go to far locations. If you're travelling and feel like meeting some fellow AF'ers, here's the place to post.

I really hope there's interest in this. I know GBD has some great ideas!

[MJ the Skeptical]

I would love to meet people (especially Losty) from the site, but like most of you, I live far away from most people on this site so I don't see how most of us would ever meet unless we felt a need to do so.

[Ravenshire]

Booking in advance cuts air fare wayyyyyy down. I'd be more than happy to host a meet up here in Denver next summer. I'd even be willing to find a local hotel that's willing to offer group rates and even do some "local tour guide" stuff. Garden of the Gods down in Colorado Springs. Rocky Mountain National Park up at Estes. Cherry Creek State Park here in town.

I've driven from Augusta Ga. to Philadelphia Pa. and back over a weekend just for fucking sandwiches (best phillies I ever had ) and from Salem Or. to Crescent City Ca. and back to have a couple beers with an old Army buddy.

I'm willing to drive, fly or host for a meet up.

From looking at the map, Denver would be a good central location for an east/west meet. Chicago or maybe Indianapolis for a midwest meet. One of the many beautiful towns along the SoCal coast for a southwest meet. Portland is the obvious choice for a Pac NW meet. Maybe Virginia Beach for an east coast meet. Jacksonville for a southeast meet.

Seriously, there's no reason we can't do this!

[DramaQueen]

Are royalty invited?

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Well I'd be up for meeting people over here in the UK. Indeed, 3 of the moderators (including me) all live in the same city/area.

Bit difficult for me to fly over to the US though

[Cyberman]

I would love to get together with some of you, especially the lovely ladies. Some of the closest friends are here. I just don't know if it's feasible.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

You're just down the road from me,Stim.

[vorlon13]

Seems like a large get together could rapidly turn into a nightmare of depravity.

Not that there is anything wrong with that . . . .

[Nine]

My activity has been all over the place since I first joined. Most of the people I knew pretty well have disappeared now. Plus I don't think there is anyone a practical distance from here that will be much interested in a visit from me.

I do encourage the rest of you to do it though. I met up with a bunch of gaming friends a few years ago and it was fucking awesome.

[Cyberman]

You're just down the road from me,Stim.

Perhaps we ought to meet up, share a few bevvies, chat about mod stuff.

I'll keep an eye out for a rotating dog.