Ahhhh, I've never been but want to go so badly. It'd be a 2,500 km drive (one way!) or a very expensive 7 hour flight to get there from where I am, but dammit, I'm resolved to make it next year even if I have to pimp myself out as a femme-for-butch escort.
I read that Nedra Johnson piece on her blog a short while ago and thought it summed up perfectly why spaces like Michfest are so important. I just wish there were more of them!
I'm a bit nervous about the camping thing though... while I can appreciate nature in the abstract, I'm not exactly what you'd call an "outdoorsy girl" and I haven't been camping since I was dragged out unwillingly as a teenager. I don't even own a pair of shorts... Or jeans. Or flip-flops. Or flat sandals. Or a tent. Or, or, or... the list goes on.
Question for the femmes: how did you find the camping aspect? Are you a camper in general or is Michfest your exception? Are there any things you'd wished you'd known ahead of time or adjustments you've made over the years which have saved you time or frustration? Do most Festies tend to go "granola" for the duration of Fest out of convenience? Is there really no cell service at all?
Also, I'm a little confused as to what exactly the Twilight Zone is. Is it strictly for BDSM practitioners? Do you have like some bulldykes casually playing poker and downing a few beers while a few feet over there's someone being whipped and tied to a tree or what? It sounds very odd... and a little intimidating to a somewhat introverted chem-free gal who has little to no experience in BDSM. Is it like a giant kinky play party in the woods? I've read snippets about it elsewhere online and the doms made it sound like Varsity level kink where only Very Serious Players seeking Very Serious Experiences with Very Serious Skills should dare to venture. Lots of gatekeeping. Kinda turned me off. Vagina and Happy Go Lucky, you must have been
really appalled considering your extensive in depth investigation.
How is it different from the rest of the "activities" that tend to go on throughout Fest? What's the crowd makeup like (numbers, ages, types of people, etc.)? Any things you liked or didn't like about it? Inquiring Festie Virgins need to know.
