Last weekend was the first gaming convention I'd attended on my own in, what? Seven years? Ordinarily, Eileene goes with me, since our second year at U of I, where we attended Winter War annually. Going alone was definitely different, though in subtle ways.
I fed myself almost entirely from a cooler packed for the occasion. Only once did I get a hot meal, in the restaurant/bar, and that was more for some time to sit in a dark, quiet space for an hour than because I desperately wanted the burger and fries. When Eileene's along, we eat out two or three times in a weekend. Bolting down take-out pepper chicken or a fat-laden TGIFriday's meal is harder on the stomach, but it breaks the scenery, refreshes the mind before plunging back into the crowd.
Nights were less relaxing. I can blame some of that on the Vampire players skulking noisily about my room well past midnight. More important, though, was just the lack of my partner, a chance to wind down in the evening, talking the day's events out of my system, and a bedtime hug and kiss.
All the down time between events was less interesting. No chance to gloat over a hard-earned prize or to bitch about an unlucky loss. No opportunity to sit back and listen passively to gaming tales, since acquaintances at the con have their meals and events to rush to. Just an internal post-game rehearsal of my own events. No opportunity to talk about something other than gaming, either.
Naturally, we couldn't participate in any events together. Eileene may not be the best player I know, but she's pretty good. Good players are more important to an enjoyable event than anything else. A system can suck rocks, and an adventure grind through every cliché in the book; good players can dig out the worthwhile bits to focus on.
Obviously, too, Eileene didn't get to see any of my adventures in action. She can neither praise my genius nor offer harsh corrections before I try sending them to publishers.
So all-in-all, I missed her. My voice may have survived the weekend better than usual, but it's not worth it. Nice to have your girlfriend around.
So I've come to a decision. As I mentioned in an earlier entry, wherein I complained about Peter O'Toole, I never cared much for theater. The constraints of the stage disrupt my willing suspension of disbelief. Musicals, in particular, drive my attention from the show itself to the watching of the show. That's a shame, given that I now live just a hop from Broadway, and even more so given that Eileene likes theater. I've seen a few plays with her, but we've grown out of the habit. For the past couple years, she's found another friend to attend with, or gone alone, while I would entertain myself otherwise.
Well, Eileene likes me there in the theater with her, even if I'm not particularly entertained. (She doesn't want me truly miserable, but it's nicer to have me along.) And it is nicer to have your partner along. Next time she wants to see a show, we'll get two tickets. Even to a musical.