Rick,

That jsut about says it all, I think.

It's funny to see similar conversations coming up on the e-mail harplist and there has been a split-off group formed for socialising - which is good in some ways and sad in others (if it becomes an either-or choice for participants, I mean).

I always think of Mudcat as a never-ending folk festival.

There are workshops where I can learn stuff, but I only go to the ones I'm interested in. Although if I happen to poke my head around the door I'll usually hang around for a bit because it is all interesting to a degree, it's just that I'm more interested in some things than others.

There are also concerts and creative workshops where people show their talents or use their creative talents and spark off each other's ideas.

And then there is the party in the kitchen where there is more BS than you could believe possible, lots of laughing and gentle poking fun, but not a lot of anger or ill feeling.

And then there is the serious social and political discussion often combined with the song & poetry writing group. I have my thoughts about this stuff but I tend not to join in, for various reasons - not the least of which is I prefer some of the other activities including playing, listening to music or learning stuff.

So, I don't have to be involved completely in every single Mudcat activity to enjoy the festival - I choose what I want to be involved in and the thread, the link, the focus, the hub around which it all revolves, which keeps me involved is folk and blues music.

Helen