Pennsic 53

I am glad to see many had a great time at Pennsic 53, for the most part. While Pennsic War is definitely an experience to have at least once. Especially if someone plans on being in the SCA long term. A person should evaluate their individual needs and see if it’s an event you can do on a regular interval that works with your life and health. Some food for thought I am providing on my own experiences. I have attended both a two week time span and a single war week in my two times attending Pennsic War. It’s an intense planning prepping and attending sort of event. 

Here is the list of my personal Pros and Cons for attending Pennsic War on a yearly basis. These are my experiences and opinions, they are not reflective of others choices and preferences. I am a non combatant gentle, I do not participate in martial activities. Which means my viewpoint will not include these options as experience. 

My list of my personal pros for attending Pennsic War:

• I love the plethora of classes, also want to teach some unique classes on dolls that are more fit for this huge gathering of people. May be able to find more doll folks out there, finding a niche tribe is more likely in a large gathering event like this one.
• Seeing my friends and acquaintances. There are a collection of people, I get to only see there and not out at other events. Also getting to see my friends do what they do best is peak heart warming. 
• The unique medieval merchant market shopping experience is peak amazing. A caveat for myself, long as it’s going to be things used and not hoarded. Window shopping is some well spent time, also great way to get those daily steps in.
• Knowne World Arts and Sciences display, an opportunity to see what things gentles are working on for research, arts, sciences and crafts. The topics are so vast you will learn something you didn’t know before guaranteed. Also an opportunity to network with the  A&S community in a larger forum within the SCA. 

My personal cons for attending Pennsic War:

• I do not like camping as an adult. Being hot/cold q/sweaty dirty is not my version of a good time. Yes there are showers but depending on weather the effects may only last a few hours at best. 
• I like sleeping in on vacation and that cannot be done in a tent after 10am. Also I miss classes when my sleep schedule is not on an early enough trajectory. 
• Am a temperature sensitive person who does not change my style of clothes persona for the weather. It’s Tudor/Elizabethan or bust, heat exhaustion is real. I do linen garb in warmer months, a linen kirtle and linen shift and hat for sun protection in a garb. 
• As a redhead, give me 5 mins and I will be sunburnt even with proper skin protection. Am more careful of my limits as I age, I also have problems with beach vacations for this reason. Also means I need to be covered in fabric to avoid sun exposure. Challenging in the summer months. 
• Extreme weather can make the day to day tent camping very challenging. Let alone loss of property by Mother Nature or via theft. As much as things are waterproofed or kept in totes to assist there is only so much that can be done to fight the weather. It’s has become more extreme over the years with tornados in Pennsylvania than in the past. 
• Pennsic is attended by nearly 10 thousand people yearly. Which that creates unique opportunities for gathering and camaraderie, it’s not always good all the time. I have had to regulate the amount of socialization in the current years. Which means I will need to hotel Pennsic and treat it more like an extended day trip event.  Then go back to relax and decompress for my own mental health.
• I do not drive a vehicle that does well off road and I do not plan on selling my perfectly fun and well maintained Mustangs for an SUV. I am the only person who does SCA in my house and I do pack lite for my own needs. The car is just enough space for me and my stuff for day trip events. This means if I do attend Pennsic War in the future. I will have to rent a vehicle for a week, then take my own. 
• Expense, not only does one need vacation time to cover typical household bills. Planning food expense and consumption, making clothing, renting a car and hotel for my personal needs makes it not a cheap vacation. It’s considered a cheap vacation but this depends on your individual needs. 

I am not old in terms of my body but do want to protect it and treat myself well enough to continue to participate for many decades. Which means I need to consider my tolerances now and adjust as needed. Hoping this gives folks some things to think about regarding this large camping event. It is truly fun and can be quite enjoyable experience, although there is much planning that needs to be done for things to go smoothly.

Maureen