NY, NJ, PA - your feedback, please

[Avalon]

Okay, gang, here's my idea. *takes deep breath*

I live in Suffolk County on Long Island. I would love to meet so many of you, but because of my panic disorder, I'm unable (at this time) to travel to NYC, or NJ, or PA, where quite a few of you are gathering. I am sick over this and would sell my left arm to meet you all.

What do you think of doing something on the Island? Perhaps somewhere we could all get to fairly easily - my objective is not to make it easy only for me, and have a 10-12 hour drive for all of you. Neither am I trying to feel sorry for myself...it's just that long car trips are out. For now, until I get better, at least. :bigredblu

Please be honest and let me know what you think.

- a very sheepish feeling Avalon :o

[Radocs]

I don't mind interstate driving. The biggest problem for me with long drives is that it's very difficult for me to get days off at work, and I will end up working weekends in a few weeks.

If I could score a few days off work I'd make the drive though. Only been to NY a couple times. ^_^

[Kaylara]

I'm free on weekends to travel anywhere...

[Avalon]

So, perhaps something on a weekend, maybe closer to the summer, when it might be easier to get time off (this means you, Radocs)?

Keep those suggestions coming!

[Kaylara]

Yeah! Or you could come here (It's really not that far) and we could go to the beach or Great Adventure or something.

[MammaStar]

that's all if Avalon is feeling better. LI is about an hour and half (with traffic) trip for me.

IF you're feeling up to it, Avalon, we could maybe go to GA or if you want to stick closer to home, we could go to Rye and go to Playland, though I suggest a Week DAY for that.

I know how ya feel....I haven't been able to get to some of the meet ups, though I have met Kay and Traz. Yvonne, Chryssi, Earthstone, Nallos and Laiste. And well, I've known Wtchy for over 20 years so. :lol:

[WitchJezebel]

Avalon - I'd be up for a trip to L.I. or thereabouts. It would have to be a weekend for me, but I'm in. I hope you feel better soon, I'd love to meet you.

[Klucky]

I'm game, but my own ways of finding a ride would be a tad difficult. I'll talk to an old friend of mine about this...see if he's interested in meeting people he doesn't even know. :)

-Klucky

[AquariusWolf]

Suffolk County? That is so far! I am just kidding. I would love to make the 60 minute trip out there to meet you.:)

[Xander67]

Hey, Im a time traveler too......

PA NY lol Im always up for a road trip :sailing:

[Morr]

I know I live in Israel, but I used to be a fellow Jersey resident... I used to live in Fair Lawn, Bergen Country, NJ...

Ahhhh those were the days...

[Sylvan]

I wish NYC didn't lie between us, Squirrel Girl. :( Maybe I can see about the Cross Sound Ferry one of these days... Bypass NYC and its traffic...

[AquariusWolf]

I know I live in Israel, but I used to be a fellow Jersey resident... I used to live in Fair Lawn, Bergen Country, NJ...

Ahhhh those were the days...

Morr, you should move back to NJ! :lol: Please?

[Morr]

Morr, you should move back to NJ! :lol: Please?

I would LOVE to... however, I'm not a citizen and I dont have a greencard... So unless the US changes its Immigration policies... I aint coming unless its for my MA studies (only in 2.5 years), or as a tourist (*MAYBE* next Feb)...

I'd love to move back though... But I honestly dont know... I'm looking into MA studies in Europe, rather then the US... The US is like my second home, so I feel like I need to explore & live in Europe more... I have 2 very dear friends in Philly though... One just got married and is planning on having kids in a couple of years.. So I'll definitly be coming to visit once in a while... I'll definitly let NY/NJ/Philly MWickers about my coming in the future!!
So maybe we will meet one day!!

[Nitefalle]

I'm in Jersey, but don't know how to get to LI...LOL isn't that sad? If I could figure out a way, I'd make the trip, no prob. My closest friend lives two hours away in PA so driving is not a thing for me. Just lemme know how much I'll need for tolls. Saturdays would definitely be best for me as that is my set weekend day off. Summer would rock!!!!!!

~N~

[Avalon]

Okay, kids. Start telling me dates that you think would be best for some sort of meetup. My life is lonely, so I'm pretty much free whenever :lol:

Edited to add: Let's try and start with May, if possible.

[Radocs]

I won't have a fixed schedule after a couple more weeks so I can't say that any day will work better for me than any other... if some consensus can be reached by everyone else I'll try and got those days off. ^_^

[Avalon]

Okay, that'll work. :D Any others?

[Klucky]

I'll get back to you after the 20th. :)

-Klucky

[Avalon]

Once we agree on some sort of date block, I'll send you all (you know who you are ;) ) a PM.

[Sylvan]

I have stupid days off- Thursday and Friday (though Friday's an early night as hubby has to be home to go to work for 6pm, and I have work the next morning...)
So Thursdays are the best for me...

[Kaylara]

I'm going to find out if my mom will let me have a giant party in her backyard. (2 acres with woods... It's really nice) If so, everyone can come over there, or I can wait until the MIL and FIL go away again, and we could have it at my house!

[MammaStar]

just let me know when, and I'll let you know if I can come. I'm usually more available on weekends, but Little League is starting soon. ;)

[Kaylara]

No problem hon... :) will give you plenty of notice...

[WitchJezebel]

I'm available almost every weekend with prior notice, I'll leave that decision up to someone else.

[Nitefalle]

::does her boyfriend's weird little dance:: WHOOOOOT!!

Party at Kaylara's!!! I'll bring the body paint and tiki torches!!!!

~N~

[AquariusWolf]

Weekends work for me! ::dances around the room with Nitefalle::

[Araxie]

I live on Long Island, but because of my young age, I can't really do anything unless it is some sort of convention. I don't think my mom would mind me going to a wiccan convention, and that would be fun, but what I'd really like to attend would be some sort of festival for a holiday. Ostara is soon but I can't find any info about festivals on the island.

[IvyWitch]

Hm. If I didn't have just a small one bedroom apartment I'd say everyone drive out to Long Beach (on the island)....but I don't think the Beach Patrol would take too kindly to a pagan gathering on the beach after hours in a jewish area. -_-;

But I'll be there, wherever it is. Weekends are best for me (school. bleh), and I need prior notice. ^^

I bring the other half too. ^^

[Kaylara]

We're having a meetup this weekend in New Hope, PA... Contact me for more details. ;)

[Avalon]

:bumpsmili

Okay...Pennsylvania had its fun, now it's New York's turn!

When? Where? Post any ideas. :D

[Kadynas]

:hugz: I feel for you Avalon, I have the same problem, ironically enough only when I have to drive by myself! I wish I could drag some of you up to Mass. sometime! But I do have a whole week off in August... :)

[Avalon]

Okay, then. Should we strive for August? How do all the other NY/NJ/etc. folks feel about that? I have some vacation days I could put in for...

[Kadynas]

I'm off the week of the 16th... :) I can probably drag my fiance (or my husband as he'll be by then!) with me. :)

[Avalon]

Okay. I'm going to add a line to my sig - people, check your calendars and let's work on this one!

[Sylvan]

The week of the 16th... I could see if hubby would go on that Thursday... We'd be taking the train in from New Haven.. And it would be my b'day week, so I could parlay that into a present from him. :lol:

[Avalon]

The week of the 16th... I could see if hubby would go on that Thursday... We'd be taking the train in from New Haven.. And it would be my b'day week, so I could parlay that into a present from him. :lol:
That's right!!!! That would be completely awesome!!! :yayhawaii

[IvyWitch]

Where on the island were we thinking about meeting? Something outdoors I assume? Hoyt Farm might not be a bad spot for a pagan picnic. ^__^ And threre's also always the Sunken Meadow park/beach or even Jones Beach somewhere.

I would offer my apartment as a starting gate, but it's a little small....

Ooooorrrrr....we can make a trip up to the Sterling Forest Ren Faire. It's running from August 7th to Sept 22, so even if we decide to have an LI get together this might be a fun idea for another weekend/day trip :sailing:

[Avalon]

Any other ideas? I like the idea of Sunken Meadow State Park...

Manhattanites, Jerseyans, even you out in Li'l Rhody :D Any other location suggestions?

[MammaStar]

I vote Ren faire!!! :D

If we do that, we can use my house as the meet up spot. I live 30 min. from there. :D

[Kadynas]

Now are Sunken Meadow and the Ren Faire also on Long Island, or are they more upstate? I'm in Mass. and used to live in PA, so I'm trying to get an idea of where I'll be driving to... :)

[IvyWitch]

Sunken Meadow is out on the island, the faire is in sterling forest, which is kind of on the border of NY and NJ.

Hey, how many of you are in the wenches guild? (http://www.wench.org) I'm local 69! haha

[Kadynas]

The further North the better, but I'll go wherever. :)

[Kaylara]

Well, when are we planning on doing this? I have off in July, but I'm kind of booked that week. :D But just about any other time would be good on the weekends...

[IvyWitch]

I'm pretty sure we're looking at mid august.

[Yvonne Belisle]

If I have a ride I can go. I am kind of hoping people will come to my house in august for a birthday party. Maybe we could each have a day in the same weekend so people who are driving long distances could stick around and not have to do it twice?

[ThistleButterfly]

::jumps up and down:: Nitesy and I totally went to that Renfair last summer!! It was a blast. And..we have pictures, in garb. :heybaby:
As for a NY/Jersey meetup..how far is Oyster Bay from Avalon's area? They have this really adorable old fashioned carnival there every summer called Rocco's Festival. Or maybe a bbq/cookout sort of deal in a park? There's got to be a decent park near by.. someone could see about bringing a portable grill or see if its a place that would do a fire and we could do like..campfire chicken or hotdogs or whatever, play games, etc...

[Avalon]

Lessee...I just checked the map, and Oyster Bay is about an hour from me...I'm from the South Shore of LI...

[IvyWitch]

Oyster Bay is not too far from my bf's apartment. Av, if you couldn't make it out there I can always come pick you up, you're not too far east of me ^^

Thistle, Yay, another Sterling renfaire goer! Did you see the lady walking around in the HUGE gold queen dress handing out plushies and singing "I like a moose" on the holiday weekend (labor day?)? I know that's a little specific, but I was wondering. hehe

[Nitefalle]

Hm, I do not seem to recall a woman singing "I love Moose" in a huge gold dress, but we went one weekend where it rained on saturday and was gorgeous on sunday. Sadly, the attendance was low due to the rain, but b/c we were in garb people kept thinking we worked there LOL It was a blast, I love RenFair. We did, however, catch the male bellydancing contest. Did you see that one?

~N~

[IvyWitch]

Oh, no I missed that. I missed the birds of prey too. =( But that's ok because I plan on going up at least 3 times this year, funds permitting.

[Kadynas]

If I have a ride I can go. I am kind of hoping people will come to my house in august for a birthday party. Maybe we could each have a day in the same weekend so people who are driving long distances could stick around and not have to do it twice?
That would be really good, since I don't get a lot of time off... That week in August will be about it for the year! :lol: I'm off the 16th through the 23rd... :)

[Yvonne Belisle]

Maybe August 21 and 22? One in PA one in NY? I was planning to do my party Aug 21 it is supposed to be a potluck/barbeque birthday bash. I have hope I won't be the only one there lol

[Kadynas]

The 21st and 22nd are the best days for me. :) We'll be in the area anyways on our way home.

[Radocs]

I don't think I'm gonna be able to get the21st and 22nd off work, but I can try. ^_^

[Avalon]

Okay. Sorry, Yvonne, but I doubt I'll be able to get to PA...your party sounds fun though :(

So NY & NJ, which day is good for you? Aug 22? Another day that week? Any PAers weigh in too...Radocs, beg and plead. I'll send you one of those shirts that says "There's Someone in New York that Loves You!" :lol:

I'd love to meet you all, but perhaps we could also do a NY only meetup, if the traveling is too hard for some folks...

[IvyWitch]

That works fine for me. It's far enough in advance that if I have a job at that time I'll be able to request for the dates. ^__^

[Nitefalle]

I only have one question, Av....will Bill be there? I was so looking forward to finally meeting him :lol:

~N~

[Kadynas]

The 20th might actually be better for me... I have to be back at work the 23rd, and I'm planning to go to the PA meet-up Yvonne's having on the 21st...

[FestiveLeaf]

I don't really have a life, so any date would work for me :lol:

[Xander67]

are we doing something in April,?

hey Festive.......... where is Milkshake?? :T

[Kadynas]

Actually we were talking about August. :)

I actually have a four day weekend this week for my birthday, but I doubt I could come all the way down there... Noone ever wants to come to Massa.!

[AquariusWolf]

are we doing something in April,?

hey Festive.......... where is Milkshake?? :T
Milkshake is here:)

[Xander67]

Omg :T

[FestiveLeaf]

Milkshakes are all round :) :floating:

[Xander67]

ROUND aint the WORD :rotfl:

[FestiveLeaf]

:lol:

I love when you mispell a word, and it turns into something funnier then what you were originally going to type :hehehehe: