<div>Greetings from Druinne. I am answering for myself only, as Dáire and I have had some different experiences eventing.</div>
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<div>Also, my opinions are much colored by the fact that I event on a regular basis. Dáire and I, together or alone, have hit as many as 6 events in one month between us. We know that that is not the norm. But, after writing my answers and reading some of the others, I can see that my approach to eventing is very different due to the number of events that I (we) make.</div>
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<div>The number of events that I (we) make also colors my assessment of what makes an event fun for me and what makes me drag my family out of bed at OMG:thirty on Saturday morning to drive for four or five hours or to let myself be dragged out of bed by the husband to drive him to a tournament for five hours while he sleeps. (He usually drives home.)</div>
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<div>A fun event for me is one where I get to see my friends, watch some fighting, maybe even armor up myself, learn something new, eat some good food (local folks usually bring out the serious munchies or know the really good cheap places to eat, or I get creative with some chick peas and pita), do some work, and not have a flat tire. If someone I know gets a cool award, then that makes it even better. Court is cool, I don't care what anybody says. I like the social aspects of a good feast also. I don't always eat the food there and many times, I have off boarded due to either allergies in the family or I just didn't like the menu. Given a choice between out to dinner with friends and home in my own bed on Sunday morning, I will take a restaurant and shower and bed at home most times.</div>
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<div>I must also say that eventing on a regular basis with CHILDREN has also colored what I find fun at an event. We started playing when Cailyn was 3 weeks old and back then we camped more than not. Parties are generally for one, not both of us, unless we have a camp sitter for the group. My son stopped eventing as football and high school took over and now, he is in college with a weekend job.</div>
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<div>It is important to remember that we have a diverse group of people in the SCA with many needs and who find fun at events in differing ways.</div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">1. How far are you willing to travel to daytrip? (hours, mileage)</font></div>
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<div>Generally about 6 hours one way is my limit. I have done this a few times alone, with the help of caffiene but often with someone else who helps keep me awake. Mileage - whatever it takes to get to Stargate or Northkeep from here.</div>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">2. What is the deciding factor as to whether you camp or stay at a hotel?</font></p></div></blockquote>
<div>I only camp when I HAVE to. I camp at Gulf War because it is one of the few times that camping is less expensive than a hotel and I don't like the walking from parking bit. I camp at Elfsea events. Other than that, it is rare and there is a specific reason - such as helping out a dear friend with something or the annual trek to Autumn Melees, though we have friends who day trip that event on a regular basis.</div>
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<div>The root cause of this attitude is the fact that Dáire and I event on a regular basis, regular meaning three to four weekends a month, most months, barring any major issues at home - illness, kids' stuff, etc. Hauling out that stuff one weekend after another gets old quick. Plus, the cost is alot less to day trip.<br>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">3. Do you find it more expensive to camp or stay in a hotel?</font></p></div></blockquote>
<div>Camping is always more expensive. Gas for big van to drag stuff out, plus food that always seems to cost more than what we have at home, etc. Daytripping is like going to fighter practice. You just take the bare minimum of what you need. I have done it with a small ice chest, protein bars, a case of water and the dollar menu at McDonalds. I have even daytripped and not even taken a chair to sit in at a tournament. I realized that I was not sitting in the one I had taken for the previous few weeks, so I just left it at home.</div>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">4. If you got a break on the site fee, would you be more willing to show up early and stay late for set up and tear down?</font></p></div></blockquote>
<div>Even if they let me in free, I couldn't do this. I work from home on Fridays, but I am online until at least 4, when the kid gets home from school. By the time she gets bathed, and in the car, we are not out of there until 6 ealiest. So, if the event is four hours away (which seems to be the average), we are not there until 10pm. See above about why I day trip. And on Sunday, I need to get out of there asap and get home. I have stuff to do at home.<br>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">5. If you day trip, what time do you generally arrive at the event and what time do you leave?</font></p></div></blockquote>
<div>Generally arrive around 8-9, depends on how far event is and what is going on that day and what I am doing and who is with me. Tournies - 8ish for armor inspection. Indoor events - depends on class schedule or meeting schedule. Leave - depends on what is going on Sunday. If we need to be home for something special, we will leave before court if needed. I usually stay for court. I have left as late as 10pm for a six hour drive home, with a person along. Some events we will stay for parties, but mostly I pick and choose about staying late.</div>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">6. What kinds of things would make you more likely to stay later, lets say Saturday of the event? (bardic, parties, special nighttime fighting)</font></p></div></blockquote>
<div>Depends on what is going on Sunday and how many events I have made that month. If I am 10 events straight, no amount of party will keep me there. I have done what I came to do during the day, most likely. Some events do have a special draw - there are "always" good parties at them.</div>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">7. Do you have the ability to have one or two people carpool with you to an event? (space in vehicle, for them and their stuff)</font></p></div></blockquote>
<div>When I go alone, I usually convince someone to ride with me, just to keep me awake. If we all go, no room. We have stuff - armor, etc.</div><br>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">8. What kinds of things do you like in a site? Please rank the following (1 thru 8 with 1 being most important)</font></p></div></blockquote>
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<div>None of these will influence whether I go to an event or not, because most of the time, I day trip. If anything, easy access to hotels might make a difference, but not much.</div><br>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">_____ Flush toilets</font> <br><font face="Arial" size="2">_____ Showers</font> <br><font face="Arial" size="2">_____ Easy access to water</font> <br><font face="Arial" size="2">_____ Easy access to electricity</font> <br>
<font face="Arial" size="2">_____ Indoor (A/C or heated) hall of some kind</font> <br><font face="Arial" size="2">_____ Formal parking (Blacktop/cement)</font> <br><font face="Arial" size="2">_____ Close distance to hotels/food</font> <br>
<font face="Arial" size="2">_____ Shade trees</font> </p><br> </div>
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