Southeast Octoberfest Reunion - Back to Southport!

[RickK]

Roughly 137 miles for me.

[Capt. Bob]

Well showing up for one is on my bucket list so....

150 miles for me.

To relate, we drive 120 miles to Port St. Joe for one l o n g day of fishing.

[seabob4]

84 miles for me...

Damn, wonder why I suggested Cedar Key...

[GoneFission]

So Gary (GMan) and I each drove 320 miles each way; Lewis and Bridget drove 400 each way; soooooooooo

 

                          :sunny:    

[RickK]

The mileage is not the issue, it's getting the members motivated.  We've been holding these since '06 so we have the drill down.  After I got the Explorer we started going for the weekend and camp on the boats.  We hold the gathering on a Saturday.

[seabob4]

So Gary (GMan) and I each drove 320 miles each way; Lewis and Bridget drove 400 each way; soooooooooo

 

                          :sunny:    

Well, Capt. John, it's about 3 things...Logistics, demographics, and economics.  First the demographics part.  We have a younger crowd down here in FL, some have kids that either need to be brought along or need some sort of care, either from friends, grandparents, or whomever.  So that can be a real detriment, even in the summer.  

Second, logistics.  We all can drive within a few hours of the intended destination...so we ask ourselves, why pay for a place when I/we can just drive back home?  There are tons of members here in Tampa Bay that LIVE here!  And with the cost of a beach house here, well, let's put it this way, you don't want to know...

Then there is economics.  We all don't have good or great jobs.  For me to tell Maggie that, hey, heading down to Anna Maria for the weekend, gonna need to split housing share on a $750-$1000 per weekend house that will sleep 8 (so nobody has to go down the road or wherever to shack up), and I'm gonna bring $500 in mad money...yeah, I'd like to see the look on HER face!!!  

I went to do a job this morning in Madiera Beach, mid-Pinellas coast.  Friend of mine from THT.  Electronics partial install.  Him and his wife live in Orlando, have this place in Mad Beach, as we call it.  Kept telling me it was a condo.  Well, I get down there this AM, it's a house...a tiny little one bdrm/1 bath house on a cove off the intercoastal.  Nice enough done on the inside, nothing to write home about, his backyard is a pool (tiny), nothing else, and a dock out back.  His neighbors?  reach over the fence 4' from the side of the house, shake hands.  So I do the job, ask him what he gets for the place...$3K month, $1800 for 2 weeks, $1000 per week, $600 for a weekend.  Now this is a tiny little place, only a couple (and maybe their dog) could stay there....and it's not really waterfront, no pretty sunsets, just a dock where you can keep one boat.

So I ask him let's say I wanted a 3 bed/2 bath (maybe 3) with a nice view...$12K mo!  And a weekend?  Fuggeddaboutit!!!  So I don't know what you guys paid for your gathering house, but that's what it is down here, in a desirable area...

On another note.  I'm working on this "friends" boat, his buddy comes along, we're talking while I'm working.  Says the same thing I'm doing would take his marina a couple days, and marinas charge around $125/hr to do same, work done by a yard ape.  I get done, worked around 4 hours, tell him that will be $350...he looks at me funny, and I know that look.  That much?  Well, MF, why don't you just take the damn thing to a marina and see WTF they charge!!!  On top of that, I emailed him last night around 9 saying cash would be nice.  I wrap up the job, asked if he got my email, he said yeah, around midnight...he had all effin morning to run down to the bank, now I have to follow him to go get money...

Done ranting.  AND I HAVE MY BIG BOY PANTIES ON!!!

[gran398]

The main thing about attending these reunions....You have to WANT to come. That is, you have to truly be excited, damn the torpedoes (and the mileage) we're coming.

Getting a nice place is a big plus for us. Matter of fact, if it weren't for a place for everyone to gather as a group...it would basically be meeting for dinners and participating in a boat parade. A house allows casual interaction among the members, meeting, mingling, socializing...as opposed to speaking only with the folks around you at a restaurant table. Or backing a truck at the ramp.

It also allows comfort for the Admirals. Nothing against camping out, if that's what works for you...but I can say with certainty that my wife isn't sleeping on fiberglass with bugs, salt, lightening, rain etc.

Another thing...cancellations and no-shows. If you throw your hat in the ring...come. Planning has been done on your behalf. Rick and I have discussed this, and not only is it disappointing....its chitty.

Anyhow...we have a great time. The Northeast members...too late for you guys this year. But next year...different story. A bunch of great guys there, active members too. We sincerely hope you'll give it a shot next summer

[gran398]

So Gary (GMan) and I each drove 320 miles each way; Lewis and Bridget drove 400 each way; soooooooooo

 

                          :sunny:    

AND

Four members flew in from Florida            :bounce:  :bounce:

[seabob4]

So Gary (GMan) and I each drove 320 miles each way; Lewis and Bridget drove 400 each way; soooooooooo

 

                          :sunny:    

AND

Four members flew in from Florida            :bounce:  :bounce:

At around $98 a pop, chip in for the rental...

You ain't getting what I had to say Scott...

[seabob4]

And just what planning was done on my behalf?  I'm a regular Joe, and sure as hell don't want any special treatment!!

As I said earlier, nobody is any better than anybody else...

[gran398]

You weren't a no-show Bob. You were invited of course, but we knew you weren't coming.

And I get what you're saying, got it the first time. My point is, in terms of every one getting to know each other as a group...that ain't gonna happen without a gathering spot.

The money thing...here again, its a function of priorities. I can save a little coin for this trip...or I can make a down-payment on a whiz-bang bells and whistles Furuno master blaster.

[RickK]

Like I said earlier - you have something special going on up there. Keep it up.
Down here I think it's too easy to say - hey I think I'll pass - maybe next year, just another day on the water.  We started having the gatherings in May and Nov to get around all the sports commitments of the member's kids.  We hold them to try to build comaraderie and make friends just like you do, and we have made good friends. Also, at every gathering we always have a bunch of Aquasports go by and they don't even give us a second look, like they don't even know what they have.

Tried everything to attract attendance to these things.  That's why now if we're going to hold one (and they most always have been away from my hometown trying to meet members), we plan it, announce it, try to pump it up and then plan on being the only ones there and plan to have a good time anyway. I have to skip this fall's gathering due to travel and work - that's too bad, haven't missed many over the last 6 years. We hope to take a boat trip to Lake Okeechobee during December.  Lots of hotel rooms there at Roland Martins for cheap too - maybe we can hold a gathering there soon and pull people from both coasts? I know at least 3 boats will make it and the 3 diehards will be in them.

[gran398]

Good thinking Rick.

The Clewiston idea is a good one. I have stayed at Roland's twice. The rooms were clean, and they serve a nice gator tail at the Clewiston Inn down the street.

Plus, that area of the lake....huge largemouth.

And only a 50 minute drive from West Palm.

[Circle Hooked]

Alot of good points here from all but there is clearly an economic divide between a bunch of us that is for sure, among other things.

I will use myself for an example, some of you know but most don't, God blessed my family with a Daughter with special needs, and I do feel blessed, however caring for her requires a financial responsibility most don't have but we manage, also certain social setting just do not work for us, and yes we've tried them all, and finding someone to watch her for say a day is hard let alone a whole weekend, ain't gonna happen, the only ones besides us qualified to watch her are my parents who are aging and I just won't do that, so I guess the point I'm trying to make here is everyone needs to be flexible and think about others before saying it has to be this and that and if it's not the way I want it to be then I'm not going because in real life there are alot more important things to get yourself in a wad about, trust me I live it.

[seabob4]

Alot of good points here from all but there is clearly an economic divide between a bunch of us that is for sure, among other things.

I will use myself for an example, some of you know but most don't, God blessed my family with a Daughter with special needs, and I do feel blessed, however caring for her requires a financial responsibility most don't have but we manage, also certain social setting just do not work for us, and yes we've tried them all, and finding someone to watch her for say a day is hard let alone a whole weekend, ain't gonna happen, the only ones besides us qualified to watch her are my parents who are aging and I just won't do that, so I guess the point I'm trying to make here is everyone needs to be flexible and think about others before saying it has to be this and that and if it's not the way I want it to be then I'm not going because in real life there are alot more important things to get yourself in a wad about, trust me I live it.

Bless your family, you, Mary, Josh, and most of all Ashleigh....

I have met the young lady.  She's pretty smart, probably smarter than a lot of us.  She just has her way of showing it...

My wife, Maggie, doesn't drive.  Not because she can't, but because of an accident she had 13 years ago.  Now, although she has been fully healed for many years, she hates getting into a car and seeing traffic.  When I go away for a weekend, or, heaven forbid, out of town for a few days, I have to make sure she has everything she needs...or wants.  I think about her all the time when I'm out.  And she is the strength in our household.

So at least you guys who THINK we should do the Carolina thing...well, at least you have some insight as to why it's just not that easy...