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!"

I don't think it's fair to ask people who would like to have extra attractions available to forego them to "protect" folks who wouldn't and can't trust themselves to pass up the temptation of non-Buffista activities. Theoretically we're all adults here, and capable of taking responsibility for our own vacation choices—regardless of whether those choices are exclusively group activities or involve sightseeing on the side.

I think her point was that if you go to NOLA and don't see NOLA, or you go to Chicago and don't see NOLA -- it nets the same -- Buffistas seen, NOLA unseen.

You just had better food in the former case.

So it's a problem for any city?

I don't think it's fair to ask people who would like to have extra attractions available to forego them to "protect" folks who wouldn't and can't trust themselves to pass up the temptation of non-Buffista activities. Theoretically we're all adults here, and capable of taking responsibility for our own vacation choices—regardless of whether those choices are exclusively group activities or involve sightseeing on the side.

I'm not asking anyone to "protect" me. I'm stating a preference. You don't like that preference, that's your bag.

Personally, I don't think it's "fair" to ask people to travel to an amazing location to see people when it's going to be difficult to both see the people and experience the amazing location.

And, you can take that "Theoretically" and...change it to "actually".

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

In my world, regional food counts as atmosphere.

I don't think it's fair to ask people who would like to have extra attractions available to forego them to "protect" folks who wouldn't and can't trust themselves to pass up the temptation of non-Buffista activities. Theoretically we're all adults here, and capable of taking responsibility for our own vacation choices—regardless of whether those choices are exclusively group activities or involve sightseeing on the side.

And yes, this.

One thing for NOLA - we probably won't startle the locals.