Could it be that.....you're (*gasp*) outgrowing mainstream fandom? That's kind of how I've felt at the last few Marcons I've gone to. (Marcon is a big con held in Columbus, Ohio in May.) I'm guessing that Lucacon is about the same size as Marcon -- about 2500-3000 guests.
I can easily feel lost in a sea of people at large cons. Nearly everyone has their "con blinders" on, seeing only what's in front of them, not paying any attention to the periphery, and focused on getting to where they want to go next.
Years ago, I didn't mind so much, since I was single, unattached, and part of a local club. Back then the priority is "Go to the panels and other programming events!" While those of us in the club all did different things during the con, we'd get together for dinner either on Saturday or Sunday evening.
Now I'm married, with a kid in tow, and no longer part of the aforementioned club. (Long story; will mention elsetime.) And when I go to cons, my priority these days is "Touch base with the con friends!" I really don't care for the Klingon in-persona schenanigans or the drunken room parties anymore.
That's the #1 reason why I prefer the smaller cons over big cons these days. And since most of my con friends are in the filk community, I now tend to gravitate towards the filk cons or the filk areas of cons. It may not completely be "my pack", but it's the closest to one right now.
Now if OVFF can last a week, and not just a weekend, so we can all get to schmooze and catch up on each other's lives......
We're getting older, and hopefully wiser......
I can easily feel lost in a sea of people at large cons. Nearly everyone has their "con blinders" on, seeing only what's in front of them, not paying any attention to the periphery, and focused on getting to where they want to go next.
Years ago, I didn't mind so much, since I was single, unattached, and part of a local club. Back then the priority is "Go to the panels and other programming events!" While those of us in the club all did different things during the con, we'd get together for dinner either on Saturday or Sunday evening.
Now I'm married, with a kid in tow, and no longer part of the aforementioned club. (Long story; will mention elsetime.) And when I go to cons, my priority these days is "Touch base with the con friends!" I really don't care for the Klingon in-persona schenanigans or the drunken room parties anymore.
That's the #1 reason why I prefer the smaller cons over big cons these days. And since most of my con friends are in the filk community, I now tend to gravitate towards the filk cons or the filk areas of cons. It may not completely be "my pack", but it's the closest to one right now.
Now if OVFF can last a week, and not just a weekend, so we can all get to schmooze and catch up on each other's lives......