This summer would be great for gathering. Toronto definitely is not far!

Woot! You are in then. Right now I'm looking at the weekend of August 7-8 as a possibility. I'm going to do a little investigation and see if it will work. The main party would be Sat the 7th, but really people could come stay a couple of days. I'm off work, so it's not at all an imposition. (I love having company!)

I can't get too serious about this until work has calmed down, seeing as I have been blithely ignoring it for the past week and a half. But...save the date, anyone who might want to join!

If price is truly a priority, and there is a genuine desire to spend more time with each other and less on tourist-ing, then I think the evaluation criteria should be revised and place outside major urban centers should be considered.

Java, I think we've definitely established that you're way more outdoorsy and un-urban than most of us. :)

I envy Java's outdoorsy-ness. Seriously. I'm awed by the beauty of the natural world....from a distance. When I get up close and personal with Mother Nature, she tends to give me a noogie.

Java, that list you put together is fantastic, and should be very helpful. Should we take out the references to dinner/dance and just leave it at dance, though? It seemed to cause some confusion before.

I talked to Jon a couple of hours ago; he's back in Somerville safely.

Maria! Hi. I loved talking with you. And I totally wasn't exagerrating your hotness, yo.

Corruptor! The easy-staying-in-touch part is crucial.

And JSw: NEENER! I totally have the upper hand, as I get both Buffistae you have met and Buffistae you haven't met, all in the same city. So there!

I'm awed by the beauty of the natural world....from a distance.

World of seconded. There's a couple parks near my apartment building, and while they're cute and friendly and park-y, I enjoy them for the three seconds it takes to walk past them on my way to the el.

Well, yeah, but I'm not talking about everyone camping next to a lake with me. There's a middle ground that's not the middle of a city, where there are things you can walk to do in a town, and you get more bang for your buck staying in a beautiful location hanging out with other Buffistas. For example, if, for the same amount of money, the hosp. suite could have been located on an outdoor deck overlooking the ocean in say, Carmel or Monterey, or in a lovely mountain town like, say, Telluride or Santa Fe or Jackson Hole - wouldn't that be worth it? I only use those because they are first thing to come to mind. There's a TON of stuff to do in a Monterey or a Carmel AND it isn't San Francisco. I'm just saying, maybe it doesn't have to be the middle of A Big City.

eta: I get that a group of you don't like the outdoorsy stuff so let me reemphasize I'm not suggesting you camp out with me. But there are a number of people who say that they'd like more time to chill and hang out with the Buffistae, and if a gorgeous place can be found to do that, that has restaurants and bars to go to, then why eliminate them from consideration?

Let's say this was the same price as DC just was: [link] It's in the heart of wine country. Worth considering? I think so, and I think others would consider it. It's just an example.

We might do well with a less destinationy city, you're right. I'm reminded now that I have a friend in Nashville who absolutely loves it - great food, good music (not just the Grand Old Opry kind), and cheap. So I'd throw that into the pile.

I like the idea of a less destinationy city, like Nashville, Austin, KC or Minneapolis.

I don't like the idea of having to wait until next May however. Parties this Summer sound good to me.

And JSw: NEENER! I totally have the upper hand, as I get both Buffistae you have met and Buffistae you haven't met, all in the same city. So there!

SA, you totally have me out-neenered now. I'm home and Buffista-bereft.

t sobs

Fortunately, the board and AIM are flying.

t grins