anotheranon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
anotheranon) wrote2001-08-26 12:33 pm
anotheranon) wrote2001-08-26 12:33 pm
talk about mixed emotions
The SCA regional group, the Barony of Bright Hills, has an exceptionally talented Cooking Guild. Last month I saw (and tasted!) their handiwork at their annual cooking competition, and was subsequently invited up for their monthly guild meeting. So yesterday I hauled up to Bel Air to meet with these folks.
Everybody was INCREDIBLY warm and welcoming - offers of food, equipment loans, etc. followed as soon as I got there and they hardly know me, as did invites to hang out at the local Rennaisance fair, 12th Night in January, etc.. I think this is incredibly cool of them; I've not encountered such openness in a group since I was part of the rave community in college.
I also seem to have a good deal in common with these folks - an obsessive interest in history, reading, research; for some reason most SCAdians I meet also seem to fall into having "off-kilter" views and tastes that make total sense to me.
On the other hand, they are so "into" the cooking (and other SCA activities) that it is hard not to be overwhelmed. I am a dabbler in period cooking at best and not prepared to join them in their marathon cooking activities where they prepare elaborate and beautiful feasts for 150 or more - this sounds suspiciously more like work than a hobby. I also find that as I get older I am much more careful and picky about plunging into social groups and/or new friendships headfirst - and it seems that involvement in any aspect of the SCA almost demands that all-or-nothing leap of dedication. And there's also a guilty feeling that if I'm going to take the plunge, I ought to really help out my local shire first - Bright Hills is about 2 hours north of me.
Maybe I really am being overly cautious and unwilling to get involved or maybe it really is almost too much at once and I have legitimate reservations. I'm so socially awkward that I'm never quite sure whether its me or the situation.
As it is, I will probably try some period recipes at home and try to make it to the Guild meetings - its only once a month and everybody is so friendly, but I'm not going to get drafted into helping feed 400(!) at 12th Night or similar because its just beyond my scope at the moment.
Heading out to the local Renaissance fair for their Scottish weekend might be fun; I'd finally get a chance to trial run my finished garb in weather cool enough so I won't swelter all day.
Everybody was INCREDIBLY warm and welcoming - offers of food, equipment loans, etc. followed as soon as I got there and they hardly know me, as did invites to hang out at the local Rennaisance fair, 12th Night in January, etc.. I think this is incredibly cool of them; I've not encountered such openness in a group since I was part of the rave community in college.
I also seem to have a good deal in common with these folks - an obsessive interest in history, reading, research; for some reason most SCAdians I meet also seem to fall into having "off-kilter" views and tastes that make total sense to me.
On the other hand, they are so "into" the cooking (and other SCA activities) that it is hard not to be overwhelmed. I am a dabbler in period cooking at best and not prepared to join them in their marathon cooking activities where they prepare elaborate and beautiful feasts for 150 or more - this sounds suspiciously more like work than a hobby. I also find that as I get older I am much more careful and picky about plunging into social groups and/or new friendships headfirst - and it seems that involvement in any aspect of the SCA almost demands that all-or-nothing leap of dedication. And there's also a guilty feeling that if I'm going to take the plunge, I ought to really help out my local shire first - Bright Hills is about 2 hours north of me.
Maybe I really am being overly cautious and unwilling to get involved or maybe it really is almost too much at once and I have legitimate reservations. I'm so socially awkward that I'm never quite sure whether its me or the situation.
As it is, I will probably try some period recipes at home and try to make it to the Guild meetings - its only once a month and everybody is so friendly, but I'm not going to get drafted into helping feed 400(!) at 12th Night or similar because its just beyond my scope at the moment.
Heading out to the local Renaissance fair for their Scottish weekend might be fun; I'd finally get a chance to trial run my finished garb in weather cool enough so I won't swelter all day.