robotech_master

Been reading some GenCon survival guides (here's one and here's another) as well as an amusing article linked from a Slashdot story. Getting more excited about going, and pondering how I'm going to get around and what I'm going to do while I'm there. Funny as it may seem, I hadn't even thought about getting in on any of the gaming going on. I'd been thinking of going mainly for the Robotech panels, maybe some City of Heroes stuff, and the dealer and anime rooms.

Now I'm wondering…should I take my long cardboard box full of all my Shadowfist cards? I hardly ever get anyone to play it with around here, I might actually find some gaming partners there. Hell, I might actually find the company that makes Shadowfist (whoever that is these days) there. Now if only I could remember how to play it.

My plan had been to pack my clothes and miscellaneous other supplies into a big duffel bag I have, and also carry my laptop computer bag with me. That would make the two items of carry-on I'm allowed by the big grey doggie. But then I got to thinking, maybe I should have a backpack, too, to tote around all the stuff I pick up on the con floor (as well as character work-ups for art commissions, snack food, etc.)? Alas my prior backpack, a Mt. Dew courier bag that I got from a Pepsi promotion a few years back, has gone missing, probably left in a taxi (though when I called the cab company they had no knowledge of it). I guess I'll have to buy another. But if I do that, it will mean that something will have to be checked on the bus. My laptop (which I won't need on the bus, given that the battery is kaput and there's no power plug-ins) or my duffel bag (which was going to contain my reading matter, space for the blanket I might take with me for bus sleeping, and so on)?

Then there's the question of snack food. I hadn't thought about that before reading those GenCon guides, either. Might be time to hit the grocery store again for boxes of granola bars, cheese and crackers, and so on. There are some guides that even recommend bread, peanut butter, and jelly, though I'm not sure where I would keep those given that I'm not going to be in a hotel. I'll probably have to resign myself to nonperishable snackies and a short walk when it comes to mealtimes.

I'm already planning to put my credit cards, driver's license, and some cash in the PDA wallet I carry in a front pocket, and leave my regular wallet packed, to minimize the risk of getting pickpocketed by the criminal element who are drawn to large gatherings of people. But I'm wondering, should I invest in a few travelers' checks too? I had expected to do most of my purchasing by credit/debit card or, if I had to, personal check (note: must remember to pack the checkbook) so I didn't think I'd need them, but on the other hand I don't know whether everyone will take cards or if I might need to withdraw some cash too. In this day of electronic banking, are travelers' checks still all that necessary?

Definitely have to remember to pack the toiletries (particularly deodorant). And probably throw some extra vitamin C pills into the ziplock baggie of vitamins I'm planning to take along. It would suck to come down with something in the middle of the convention.

What else am I forgetting?

Ah, getting ready for a convention is such delightful agony…