For a typical Symposium weekend, my wife gladly stays home knowing how boring an AMSAT Symposium can be, so I only have to buy one airline ticket and I can often cut the lodging cost in half by sharing a room with another temporarily single AMSAT guy. I carry enough snacks in my luggage that I don't need to pay for hotel meals aside from the banquet.

However there is no way that I will be allowed to go on a "cruise with the AMSAT boys" without bringing her along, so now I'm on the hook for $446 dollars (including tax) times two, along with two plane tickets to Houston. We are looking at over $1000 for something that usually costs a few hundred. I have not missed a symposium in quite a few years but this might be the year when I lose my perfect attendance record.

Last year's symposium had a record attendance by college and high school students, who are the future of AMSAT. I doubt very many of these students can afford a cruise so we will probably set another record for the least attendance by students.

Finally, what are the legal ramifications of discussing potentially ITAR restricted subjects on a foreign registered ship outside of US territory?

I hope you all have fun, I will (probably) not be going.

73, Dan Schultz N8FGV

On Sun Jan 10, 2016 at 6:55 PM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu>

wrote:

I think the cruise is a good idea. My only thought about it is that some wives are very high maintenance, possibly placing the ham in a lose-lose situation being split apart by dual loyalties. Or he can try to go alone, and face other consequenceis. It will be an interesting challenge...

On Sun, Jan 10, 2016 at 2:04 PM, W M Willoughby <redski at bellsouth.net>

wrote:

...

I think it is a great idea to try the cruise venue. I don't see how my

wife

...

could possibly object to being on a cruise while I am in satellite presentations and I know she would enjoy meeting some of my radio friends. If the attendance is particularly low, we will know not to try it again!