One Of These Days I've Got To Go To A Fun Show

Many years ago I faithfully attended dozens (hundreds?) of shows, including FUN and ANA as well as local and regional.

Several factors combined caused the end of this practice including but not limited to: the difficulties encountered in travelling with (or without) valuables since the advent of TSA ; the high cost of travel, accommodations, rental cars, etc.; advancing age and medical issues (existing conditions and new ones acquired from travel/show crowds).

The ongoing development of the hopelessly more convenient internet where very little price haggling occurs and is never based upon personal appearance or perceived lack (or abundance) of knowledge is the rule. Poor lighting, hasty decisions, physical discomfort and a lack of privacy in transactions are also negated by online dealings.

Many of the larger cities are increasingly dangerous urban quagmires and/or overly crowded due to other unrelated attractions such as theme parks, etc.

I've grown to dislike face-to-face dealings with dealers for a number of reasons and many if not most of my trusted and favored merchants have passed away or retired.

My residential state of Ohio has killed the once thriving coin show / coin shop business by the re-imposition of sales tax on all purchases at levels ranging from 6.5 to 8.75 percent, an immediate loss of value which may take years to recover. I'm not anxious to donate every 12th coin to the state whose Bureau of Workers Compensation fomented a major scandal involving millions of dollars worth of rare coins purchased with tax money which was levied against employers ostensibly to aid job-injured workers.

I apologize if these statements appear to be sour grapes but emotions play very little part in my reasoning and I perceive myself a victim of changing times.