I am the Kat that Walks By Itself

I seem to have missed most of the panels except those I was on and a couple of GoH speeches. I spent a bit of time on the ASIM table and had to go home early twice due to family commitments.

As for staying at con hotels, I gave up staying at Melbourne ones years ago. As you say, it's actually cheaper to get a cab home if you're late. There is the matter of costuming, of course, and I've done precious little of that since I stopped staying at hotels. But then, is it really worth paying $$$ per night just to have somewhere to stash your hall costumes? If you have a costume for the masquerade, you can always ask an interstate friend to stash it for you. Mind you, my hall costumes were always pretty light, I could carry one in a supermarket green bag and get changed in the Ladies. Of course, then you're stuck lugging your own clothes around, spoiling the effect. I guess it's a matter of your priorities - and you always do some impressive hall costumes and good on you for keeping them up in this era of low costuming and no art shows!