And there sometimes is too much candy.

I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you...

Oh wait...I've said too much!

In all seriousness, the F2Fs are a ton of fun. Threadsuck back to this past May to read about the last one in DC. Some people who are much less lazy than I am wrote great descriptions of everything from the Prom to the impromptu trips Jessica mentioned.

That F2F was my first. I didn't know a soul when I showed up, but I felt at home immediately.

That'll be one fun slumber party!

The first F2F (Chicago), some of the daytime activities were: Field Museum (cost: admission), shopping in the Porn emporium (cost: train ticket, and anything you might want to buy -- or not), and making fun of hungover Steph (cost: priceless). I think there may have been a baseball game, too. So pretty much cheap.

The second F2F (LA), I can't totally remember the daytime activities. One was bowling. Oh! And a baseball game. There was also shopping, IIRC. But a lot of us just hung out by the pool for hours.

This F2F (DC) involved monuments and a lot of walking (for some of us, in poorly chosen shoes).

So, really, the only definite costs are: getting there (some people drive if it's feasible; some can carpool with Buffistas in their general area; some fly), hotel (like Jessica said, people almost always have roommate(s), so it's more affordable), and feeding yourself -- and there are always so many people that someone will want to go to an inexpensive place to eat.

Additional costs that are in no way required: booze, shopping, bribe money to get people to erase incriminating pictures from their digital cameras, etc.

bribe money to get people to erase incriminating pictures from their digital cameras

Damn, I knew I shoulda bothered to dig the camera out.

some can carpool with Buffistas in their general area

Hey, beathen, let's drive down to NOLA! It's only like twenty hours!

Hey, beathen, let's drive down to NOLA! It's only like twenty hours!

I'm thinkin' of driving. And yes, I've driven Chicago to NO and back before....

I'm thinkin' of driving. And yes, I've driven Chicago to NO and back before....

Hmmm. I might want to get in on that action. Especially cause it means I can introduce you to a lot of my CDs.

A carpool from our general area would be way fun, though I imagine it would mean taking off a little more time from lab. I'll see how things swing. But if it means saving three hundred dollars on a plane ticket...rock.

Of course, with gas prices the way they are, it may not end up any cheaper.

yes, I've driven Chicago to NO and back before....

When I was in college, my parents drove to NOLA from Southern Wisconsin. Easily done in 2 days, or 1 if you really want to push yourself.

Hmmm. I might want to get in on that action. Especially cause it means I can introduce you to a lot of my CDs.

Cool! But I'll need to know by tomorrow...

Kidding.

Anyway, roadtrips are a lot more fun with when you're not by yourself.

Yeah, my only qualm is the extra days-take-offage. The way next semester's shaping up, though, the F2F is going to be a few weeks after my prelims, so it may be a much-needed escape.