Pennsic creep

[msmemory_archive]

As I look at the schedule for Pennsic, it's looking more and more like the next time we go, whether that's next year or the year after, we should consider going Weds to Weds, or Thurs to Thurs, instead of "second week." Too much is moving earlier, and less is happening late in the week. It's the order meeting announcement that has set me off in this particular case. All four of the orders to which either jducoeur or I belong will have met before we get on site this year. And the days of a big splashy Great Court on the final Saturday are long gone (and we're supposed to be off-site by then anyway). I'm hearing from friends that breakdown starts in some camps on Friday nowadays! The times are a-changin'.

Comments

[jdulac.livejournal.com]

we have a lot of camp infrastructure to strike and put into storage (we could not possibly transport it all every year unless we had a moving van), and we aim to be off-site by noon on Saturday if at all possible. (That has really ended up being more like 3-4 pm). So yes indeed, we start on Friday. It's back to work on Monday, and we need to arrive home on Sunday (stop over in Syracuse Sat night). It's not the days of roll up your sleeping bag and toss it in the car anymore.

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't fault you for starting Friday, it's only prudent. I'm just thinking I need to catch up with the times and move my plans back a day or two. We miss stuff by arriving late, and I hate missing stuff.

[jdulac.livejournal.com]

oh, I didn't think you were faulting us for it. Just thought I'd explain how the general escalation has been occurring for us... It's that putting up and taking down a small town that has pushed back the dates.

[baronessv.livejournal.com]

At this point I only stay for Saturday because that's when the Household breaks down.
It is weird, though.

[dagonell.livejournal.com]

I tell people that the final Friday used to be the big day when the majority of people ARRIVED! We had all the battles on Friday and Saturday and then Great Court was held Saturday. They look at me like I'm trying to test how gullible they are.
-- Dagonell

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

If you haven't read this story of Pennsic gullibility, you really must!

http://www.ealdormere.sca.org/stories/GreatCanadianWallpaperFestival.htm

[rickthefightguy.livejournal.com]

It is true. But its a good thing, since it allows some recovery before work on Monday. I think what it comes from is that more and more, it is a _real_ 2 week event, so there is no need to stay until the last minute. This year I am only going for 1 week, so I will be staying as late as I can get away with...but usually, I am ready to leave after 12 days or so. Not necessarily anxious to leave, but happy to give up 12-24 more hours in exchange for an easier trip home and unpacking and whatnot.

[rosinavs.livejournal.com]

I likely would have stayed until Sunday, except before I knew I could go for more than a few days around the middle weekend my sister decided to come and visit the last weekend. Now I'm leaving as early as possible Friday morning, with some packing up done Thursday night, so that I can get home Friday night and do enough unpacking and laundry to be ready when her plane lands Saturday evening.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

Each time I've seen your post go by, I think "who is the Pennsic creep she's talking about?"

At any rate, how do you feel about the earlier start to Pennsic this year?

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

My only objection to the earlier start is that I find it slightly disorienting: what, Pennsic already? In some ways it's a good thing, since it means we will get to see jducoeur's father on his birthday, which is usually while we're away.

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

I was at my first Pennsic (IX) for ten days, and they remain the best ten contiguous days of my SCA life. We arrived the Friday before and were among the first fifty or so people on site. When we left the Monday after, I'd say there were still a good 200 people packing up. I'm thinking I should go again next year, just for the shock.

Ain't what it used to be.....

[ohsusana.livejournal.com]

The last Pennsic we were able to make, Kai and I arrived Monday-ish of first week, and left on Wednesday of War Week. I anticipate all future Pennsics to go this route....calls us whiny, old and tired, but we have found that we don't like to do a daylong haul there or home, no longer enjoy driving at night, and like having a whole day off at home to decompress before returning to work. Also, considering that Camp Grama is in West Virgina (2&1/2 hours from Pennsic in the wrong direction) and that we relish spending some appropriate time with his parents (not just dump kids and go)....well, it really puts holes in our entire Pennsic experience. If we had three weeks of vacation to take for Pennsic, it might work better, but until that happens.....

I honestly don't think we're 'old and tired' (alright, maybe I'm being a bit whiny, I really miss Pennsic!), but I believe instead our current philosophy is just a natural evolution.

I do find your post gratifying; perhaps Pennsic activites are also evolving to meet the Real Life schedules and needs of many of our maturing populace ;-). If so, maybe we'll get to see more of the Big Stuff than last time we went.

And yeah, we're aiming HARD for 2008.

Have fun for us.

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

I've never tried the whole two week haul - I doubt I have it in me. I arrived on Friday last year and plan to again this year, which is working really well. I don't miss the weekend stuff and I'm already on the ground running for War Week. And I haven't been there so long that I'm already worn out before War Week even arrives.

I am also a Friday packer, but not as hard core as many others - I like to spend a lot of Friday saying goodbyes and helping others tear stuff down, so I don't get much of my own stuff packed. I do really enjoy the "last night" atmosphere on Friday night as everyone drinks it, eats it, or burns it.

What worked best of all for me, but is unlikely I'll ever get to do again, because of the convergence as Pennsic moved one week earlier and Falconridge moved one week later - I took the full two weeks off of work one year, let them think I was leaving on Sunday, but actually left on Wednesday. So much easier.