These are folks that haven't got their priorities straight, I would imagine

Seriously, to the O.P, I just went to my first "Do" in May of this year after posting on FT for a year and a half (being an obnoxious boor, as one longtime FT'er who "hated my posts" has told me...but that's a story for another hot tub adventure). Well, I gotta tell ya, it seemed kind of crazy to go and hang out with a bunch of people that were doing the same crazy stuff as I was, hopping on planes 6 or 7 times a month, and sometimes just hopping on for the miles of it.

8 or 9 Do's later, I can only tell you this:

1. I haven't been to a Do that wasn't a great time.

2. The people that go to do's are some of the most salt of the earth, generous and decent folk I've ever run across in 4 plus decades on this rock. Be careful, you may just meet people that you won't forget the rest of your life.

3. There are people represented from all ethnicities, lifestyles, religions and professions at your "average Do"; married, or involved with s.o.'s, or single; with all kinds of interests and varied personality types, from shy to gregarious.

4. Doesn't matter what city you do your first "do" in, but, FWIW, it was easier for me to go to one in my hometown for starters.

If you like people, are even the least bit outgoing and want to broaden your base of (even just travel related) friends, an FT do is a great way to go. Just bring a fair amout of your favorite headache remedy if you like to imbibe Some Do's have been known to end their day as the sun comes up.