But if you didn't go to that city, you wouldn't be seeing them either- nothing says you can't go back later, just because you go to meet Buffistas this time.

It didn't seem to be an issue with any of the other major cities.

Erin having a stolen orgiastic weekend within three minutes of the big downtown Sephora, twenty minutes from the Scharffen Berger factory (or, for less inspiring choc, eight minutes from Ghirardelli Square), and a gorgeous 40 minutes drive up to Napa and Sonoma, aka the Wine Country

I'm trying to make it to SF for Nilly's visit in the fall, Deb, so my orgy of eyeshadow and wine should be then. And I'm hoping badly that you will make me some lemon bread (since I am Queen of Lemons), and we can drink prosecco outside!

nothing says you can't go back later, just because you go to meet Buffistas this time.

Nothing except my wallet.

But say we had the F2F in Chicago again- You'd still not have the money and not have been to NO.

I'm mostly with Heather, which is why I was asking for clarification.

Sometimes I visit places, sometimes I visit people. If I get to see a cool place out the window while I'm visiting people, it's bonus. If the stuff out the window is extremely cool, though, it never counts against.

So far, the "to do" lists for NOLA all seem to boil down to "wander around and soak up the atmosphere." Which, speaking just for myself, is something I'd rather do with Buffistas than anyone else.

I have to agree with Heather on this one. I've always wanted to see NO, and though I know that I would not see everything I want to see at the F2F since that wouldn't be my focus, I still would be glad for the chance to see a tiny piece of it while hanging with the Buffistas.

As I've said before, ultimately it doesn't really matter to me since I'll try to get "there" wherever "there" ends up being, but if I'm going to spend the money either way, I'd just as soon spend it in NOLA.

I likely will go back eventually, but if it takes another five years? At least I can say I got to go once.

YDistractionMV?

So far, the "to do" lists for NOLA all seem to boil down to "wander around and soak up the atmosphere."

And, speaking for myself, eat...a lot.

Unless I'm mistaken - which I very probably am - I think MM's worry is that he wants, at some point, to see NOLA while concentrating purely on NOLA. That he may not have the money, or time after the baby arrives, to do a second trip there for a good long time. And that he doesn't want to be torn between hanging out with the Buffistas or exploring one of the most amazing cities on the planet.

For me, not a problem, either way. But if I'd never been to NOLA and thought I might only be able to ever get there one time, I might not want to have the make the choice between Prom and a jam session in a small smoky club, starring twelve living legends of Delta blues.

But say we had the F2F in Chicago again- You'd still not have the money and not have been to NO.

I'm not seeing your point at all.

If I go to NOLA for the F2F I feel like I will have to choose between hangin' with the 'istas or seeing the city. Since the reason I would go to the F2F in NOLA is the F2F...I would not be seeing the city.

If I go to NOLA for, say, a vacation...I will be seeing the city and will not have to choose.

If we were to have the F2F in Chicago, I would not even be thinking about NOLA.

I would be thinking "Crap, Chicago's got all this stuff I should see...but I wanna hang with the Buffistas!"