OK, I'm a DO whore. I've been to more than I care to admit. For me it's a chance to travel, do my own thing in the area, and meet some old and new friends for dinner. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

But there is always that magic when someone shows me their city/country in a way that wouldn't otherwise be possible. Berlin, Brooklyn, and Tel Aviv come to mind.

London MegaDo and Zurich were in a totally different category: perfect planning and organization made me forget my plans and just go with the group because it was so well done. The Zurich Angel Service really let you leave your mind in the cupboard while you enjoyed the day. EZE beyond Gaucho100K's winetasting was very casual, but seemed to work just fine.

Zurich and London are easy cities for Americans, but some of the British and Swiss FTers I met there were so incredibly polite and gracious it made me remember how wonderful life can be if you just make a bit of an effort.***

For me, this is what makes FlyerTalk DOs so fantastic. Kudos to the all the organizers, past and present.

I used to belong to another online group that had a Gathering (50 women) once a year, but they expected the organizers of organize EVERYTHING.* Later a California group started, which included husbands and SO's, but it was even worse -- the organizers now had to take care of and entertain husbands, SOs, and God forbid, teens!!!! **

This experience made FT look like a dream! Set a location, people will get there. Or not. If I can get to Lubljiana via Prague by air, bus and train, ANYONE can get ANYWHERE if they just make an effort. I'm a bad FTer with poorly planned connections, overpriced tickets, missed upgrades, lots of confusion, but I do get there, in the right place, on time, and ready to go. So why are people treating the organizers like travel agents? This is unreal.

~Pat


* Airfare, ground transport, hotel, meals, currency exchange (US-Canada), roommates, entertainment, games, crafts (?), a "hospitality" room with free sodas and snacks, personal grocery shopping, and "scholarship" funds for those unwilling or unable to pay, etc. In Dallas we had Neiman-Marcus come in for makeovers - and one of our group brought out her Mary Kay kit and tried to tell the Versace folk how things should be done. What a fun day that was!

**Let me tell you, Pismo Beach will never see another Jimmy Buffet bufffet potlluck for 75 people with other motel guests trying to crash the party. Not on my watch. The I'm Grateful I'm Not Dead potluck the previous year didn't draw nearly the crowd of Margaritaville. Maybe the headbands turned them off. Or the noise of the blenders got them excited. Go figure.

*** Hey, most days my life at work and home is filled with old, bitter, angry people who somehow feel cheated out of something they are unable to define, but they sure want it back, whatever it was. I don't want to become one of them, and I thank those of you who help me see the better side of life. That's why I travel.