It is time once again to begin thinking about a reunion of EX friends! We have been gathering since 2013. That year we met in Las Vegas. We each travelled from our homes – having no idea what would happen! Many of us had skeptical family and friends saying things like – “You are doing WHAT? Going to meet a bunch of people you met on line? Have you lost your mind! ”
But, somehow we KNEW that all would be well! And – we were SO right! Many of us have attended every year since then – 2014 in Orlando, 2015 in Nashville, and then 2016 returning to Las Vegas! Sarah (March 2011) has been planning these gatherings each year – she has done an unbelievable job doing it! This year she has passed the baton to Laura (Michwoman) and to me.
We sent out initial messages to previous attendees to determine the place and date. We felt that would give us the best representation of various viewpoints, locations in the country, etc. – using those folks as a control group for voting. We started with places on the east coast, west coast and the middle of the country. The voting led us to select Virginia Beach, Virginia on the weekend of May 19 – 21, 2017. (We apologize to anyone that this doesn’t work for - there is no perfect method of doing this! Sorry! We encourage anyone who can't make it to try to plan a smaller scale gathering in your area.)
We are hoping to get as many “new “attendees as possible this year! We have all bonded and made lifetime friends – so many of us are attending for the fifth time! However, we want to meet YOU!!! This is not only a wonderful way to meet folks from the site, put faces to avatars, thank those who have helped you along the way, have others thank you for your contributions here – it is also a perfect way to cement your quit! As far as we know, no one who has previously attended, has lost their quit! We think that it will give you an experience which will stay with you and remind you of how precious your quit is!
We will be writing blogs about this in the coming months. However, you need to begin to plan NOW! Hotels at the beach fill up fast in the spring! Please – go ahead and make your reservations now. You can call the hotel directly, identify yourself as from the group “Become An EX” - and you should be able to reserve a room that way. (See additional instructions on the Group site -
You can also book rooms on your favorite travel site. The discount we got was merely a typical discount similar to AAA or AARP. Also – consider sharing a room – which will help with expenses! Also – certainly feel free to stay at any hotel in the Virginia Beach area.
We are planning for the weekend of May 19 – 21. However, many folks add days to either end of that. Some people will arrive on Thursday and stay until Monday. We will do small group things –and at least one total group activity and one group “meeting” as well. More info on activities to come in future blogs!
If you will be flying – fly into Norfolk, VA. That is about 20 minutes from the hotel. You will then have the option of renting a car, taking a shuttle, getting Uber, or one of the folks who has a car may be able to pick you up depending on your arrival.
Please see the group – and join up! We will communicate lots of info that way – including how to book the hotel. Also – when you join the group you will be able to see previous trip’s postings – and the wonderful photo albums which Sarah did each year! (Joining the group doesn’t commit you to anything – so even if you are just considering it – please sign up!) Join here - https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/ex-weekend-2017 And – please - make that hotel reservation!
