QuakeCon 2015: Full Retrospective

07/27/15

I think the main takeaway I have for QuakeCon 2015 is: it was fun, but I could have done it better, and I'm not sure I want to go again next year.

I definitely want to go again, eventually. But going has a time and money expense associated with it that I may want to avoid until early retirement. I'm really starting to buy into that idea. Like, I like to work, but I want to know that I am choosing to work because I like the work, not because I need a paycheck. I believe that can only lead to me doing higher-quality work.

Now, if I do go again next year, I might not do the BYOC. There's a lot of stuff to do there that isn't the BYOC, and I figure I could get the most out of all the non-BYOC stuff by not having a computer to spend any of my time on.

That would also give me an idea of what's worth my time and what isn't for every year after that, and then I can juggle between the BYOC and the events that are happening.

Of particular interest to me are the computer case mod events that show you how to really make your computer yours. There were classes on water-cooling, wiring, and a bunch of other interesting stuff. It's something I would ironically make time for if I didn't actually bring my computer to QuakeCon.

Overall, the cost of me going to QuakeCon will be around $450, I think. I split the rental car costs such that it will only cost me and Rosse $200 of the $500 total, and I spent no hotel fees. The BYOC cost $55, and I paid the painful $18 parking fee only once. I spent more on food than I would have normally, but I think I managed to spend less than $100. That, plus the alcohol, probably rounds up to about $450, I think.

I'll have proper numbers once I go through the receipts.

I suppose that's actually a very cheap vacation. Before I decide to go next year, I should plan some vacations that are even cheaper and compare. Maybe I should try a volunteer vacation or something. Gain a skill in some random thing, whilst paying no more money than the cost of living at home, but also doing something I never do otherwise.

Maybe I could do a Habitat for Humanity vacation as my next vacation.

Hell, maybe I could do a freelance vacation and make money on my vacation. Though, it really needs to be something I don't normally do, otherwise it kinda defeats the purpose of a vacation.

In any case, I need to do some explorations before I make up my mind for the next QuakeCon.

Still, a good experience that I got a lot from.