Also, Vegas is wonderful, but it's not always feasible for us ALL to get together like that in the US. The country is just TOO big and we don't have teleporters yet. But the biggest thing I learned from Vegas these past two times, is that it's so worth it to get out and meet each other!
So, I think it's a great idea if people try to do some regional get togethers; hell they can just be weekend splunches or something like that. I still remember we did a very informal get together in Philly just before the pandemic and that was great! I even got to play host for a friend from the UK for a week!
Travel isn't always easy, but it can be mitigated by making some smaller local things. Who knows, maybe someone can even make a trip out to one farther away!
You're probably tired of reading this pitch by now but here goes again:
Was thinking if we do it in Dallas we could catch the solar eclipse there on April 8. Plus the pie catapult is local, MG is only a couple hours' drive, and Darla is somewhere in Texas too. I think a really long drive but still within the state at least!
And you can fly direct there from just about anywhere in the country! As long as you can stomach flying on American... lol
If you like the idea gimme a Yeehaw! And if you don't, gimme a Yee-naw.
A big challenge on the 8th is that it's a Monday and I have the whole 'single parent' thing to handle. Weekends during are much easier to handle on my end (though I'd have to be back here by Sunday evening); summertime is really the best time because a lot of the time the kids are off visiting their grandparents. That opens up big blocks of time, and if they aren't away it's a whole lot easier finding someone to watch them since getting them to and from school isn't a thing.
I am a definite Yee-maybe. If money wasn't an issue, I'd go to everything I possibly could. Sadly, air travel has skyrocketed in price and some recent presidential proposals could increase the cost even more if they pass.
Sadly, I just don't make that much, or get that much time off. Vegas was half my PTO for the entire year (I only get 80 hours), and I have a wedding to attend in Seattle next month that's going to eat another chunk. So, it's back to the wage cage until I hit the lottery or find a sugar mama who is interested in broken, chubby middle aged men.