Is the ecstatic dancing required? That *is* intriguing.

I believe that ecstatic dancing can't really share space with other activities. In the before times, there was a weekly aession at the local theatre. My impression was that it was a lot of close proximity to sweaty bodies. Since we have an over-abundance of hippies, the bodies in question tended to have an un-viking-like relationship to regular hygiene and bathing.

I guess I'm wondering if it is ok to wedge yourself into a corner and not dance if you don't feel moved to

Yeah, I really like to dance, but *ecstatic* dancing? That might be a lot to ask if you're not in the right brainspace.

This made me chuckle. I haven't come across this many examples before.

"I before e," (except when your foreign neighbor Keith received eight counterfeit beige sleighs from feisty caffeinated weightlifters). Weird, right?

I've been a quite a few cruises. Almost all of them working on designing shows and things like that, but still I think around 60 of them total. Mostly all around the Caribbean, but also an Atlantic Crossing, the Mediterranean Sea, Alaska, and the Mexican Riviera. I enjoy them. It's basically a giant floating luxury resort and you wake up in a new city each day. You really only have enough time in each port to get a sampler sized taste of it though. I think that's the biggest drawback. I find cruises are especially nice when you are going with a group of friends since there's lot of ways you can get together, but also do things that suit each individual.

Timelies all!

I’ve been on two cruises in my life. One with my parents when I was in college.(basic Caribbean cruise) The other was a few years ago with Gary and Mr. S, in the western Caribbean.

I like the idea that I'm the sort of person who you'd think of doing a barge trip in France, meara! But, alas, we have not! My aunt and her husband did one of those river cruises in Germany a few years back and LOVED it. I would probably enjoy one of those but not one of those classic, ginormous ship cruises.

I find cruises are especially nice when you are going with a group of friends since there's lot of ways you can get together, but also do things that suit each individual.

Yes! I was kind of surprised to find I like both cruises and group tours. I like having other people plan for me and not having to figure stuff out, especially in a group.

Oh! I am going to Austin for business from 11/1-4, so that's a thing. I've been invited to a "house party with ecstatic dancing." I both don't think that's my jam and am SO curious. We'll see.

Oh man, that sounds so Austin. I live here, but I will also be out of town on business that week. I am intensely curious about the ecstatic dancing, lol.

I did a barge trip in the Bordeaux region in France in 2019 and it fucking SLAPPED. It was like the most luxurious, most service-oriented experience I've ever been involved with. It is also extremely expensive but if you have the cash it's worth it. (I was there for a press trip - it was worth the cost of the flight that I paid, but maybe not worth the week of misery in Bordeaux City and Paris that followed the perfect barge trip.)