A great many of us have made some wonderful friendships by meeting fellow CBers at gatherings dreamed up and initiated through this forum. Some of us went to our first C-Brat Get Together (CBGT) perhaps reluctantly, and without much expectation of it becoming a habit. Most all of us who fit into that group have been pleasantly surprised at what we discovered - about ourselves and our new friends - almost immediately upon arriving at the dock. And we come away with a greater appreciation for the boat we chose, and a fresh perspective on what we can do with it, and what it does for us.
That's just the way it works. The people whose lifestyle the C-Dory fits have very much in common, regardless of how different our lives are. The down to earth, laid back, common sense styling of the boat attracts people whose personalities can be described with the same words. Even the quirks of the boat are at times mirrored in the folks who own them, yet the previously mentioned attributes make the recognition of those things fun.
One of the most frequent comments in the first post or two of new members here is just how great they think this virtual community is. They find value in it as a resource, and rush to thank Bill or me or any of the many frequent posters of helpful information. But what really gets them, I believe, is the friendliness, humor, and genuine good nature of the discourse that runs through the threads of discussion. There is no individual to thank for that. The active members here already had all that before they ever found this place.
What this is all leading to is the simple fact that these are not people who display these traits only behind the anonymity of a screen name. They are really that way, and they bring the same personalities to the dock. If you have never been to one of the gatherings - large and organized, or impromptu and short notice - you are really missing out on something.
More and more of us are finding this out. The number, size and geographical breadth of the CBGTs is growing rapidly, and it is refreshing to watch so many fine people discover what I personally stumbled upon a couple years back.
So that brings us to this Poll question. An invitation, really. It will be interesting, and encouraging, to see just how many people are planning to take part in a C-Brat Get Together this season, whether their first or their next. If you don't find one on the Events Calendar that works for you, then suggest one of your own.
Mike
That's just the way it works. The people whose lifestyle the C-Dory fits have very much in common, regardless of how different our lives are. The down to earth, laid back, common sense styling of the boat attracts people whose personalities can be described with the same words. Even the quirks of the boat are at times mirrored in the folks who own them, yet the previously mentioned attributes make the recognition of those things fun.
One of the most frequent comments in the first post or two of new members here is just how great they think this virtual community is. They find value in it as a resource, and rush to thank Bill or me or any of the many frequent posters of helpful information. But what really gets them, I believe, is the friendliness, humor, and genuine good nature of the discourse that runs through the threads of discussion. There is no individual to thank for that. The active members here already had all that before they ever found this place.
What this is all leading to is the simple fact that these are not people who display these traits only behind the anonymity of a screen name. They are really that way, and they bring the same personalities to the dock. If you have never been to one of the gatherings - large and organized, or impromptu and short notice - you are really missing out on something.
More and more of us are finding this out. The number, size and geographical breadth of the CBGTs is growing rapidly, and it is refreshing to watch so many fine people discover what I personally stumbled upon a couple years back.
So that brings us to this Poll question. An invitation, really. It will be interesting, and encouraging, to see just how many people are planning to take part in a C-Brat Get Together this season, whether their first or their next. If you don't find one on the Events Calendar that works for you, then suggest one of your own.
Mike