Going to KC was my first time flying with Chloe, and you know what? She did wonderfully! She kept quiet the whole time. I know she was a little scared, but she was fine.

I did. I changed planes both directions with Chloe, and it really was no problem. We even had trouble on the way back and had to change planes again before take off, and it still was no problem with Chloe.

I did vote for a location on "my" coast. However if gas gets to $7 or $8 bucks by next summer, as is rumored, please understand that it will affect my decision to attend something even on my coast. I'm a single a mom with a single income so by then if the economy keeps tanking like it is I honestly don't know. Right now I could say I'd definately attend something on my coast, however a lot can happen in a year or 2 like you say. Sorry.

Aw Lea - you know MrPinkBarbie (Patrick) will come with you again!!!! I bet he was just eating up all the comments about him!!!!!!

Okay - I obviously was having a dumb moment (or several of them :)) as a layover would make perfect sense. This just might be doable with Sissy......

There's a dog beach in San Diego
There's 6 campgrounds
and a whole bunch of other attractions that I had never known!

I am totally going there for our vacation next year, I'll bug the hubby to go camping, he'll be up for that. OOHHH renting an RV would be too cool! OMGosh, I'm so excited now!!!

Thank you that is good to know. I know Jewels would be fine. I would be worried Chachi would bark. We need to get a carrier for him and just get him used to being in it

What airport would we fly into if Alexandria is chosen?

LOL, I have no idea how my two will react. Bernie is usually my calm one, but he hates being confined. Ginger, who is used to being crated and in a bag (her last carseat was a celltei carrier) should be good, but she can be unpredictable.

I think, if this year's event is not on the East Coast and we decide to fly we will have to get our carriers really soon and try going for car rides, to the mall, etc. Oh my.....

After seeing all the pictures and hearing about this years meetup, I so very much want to go. I'm hoping it's in Alexandria, VA, I'd definitely be there...if on West Coast, not so sure which would totally bum me out. Even NC, GA or SC I would do everything I can to get there. But who knows..I'm going to be optimistic...maybe I'll hit the lotto by then..:D

I fly to DC a few times a year for work, and my preference is to fly into DCA (National). It is on the metro line, and I can take it anywhere within the district, but if we actually had the meet-up in Alexandria, we're pretty limited with what hotels are on the metro line (King Street metro stop). If you took a taxi to Alexandria from DCA, that should cost less then $15 or so (they just switched to meters from a "zone system" at the beginning of June, so I'm not 100% positive how the new rates are). The other options are flying into IAD (Dulles), which is an ok airport, but I personally don't like it as well as DCA because you have to take these "Star Wars" type transport cars to transport you between terminals, and it just seems like more hassel to me. Dulles is about 30 minutes from the district, so maybe 15-20 minutes from Alexandria? I take a taxi to the district if I have to fly into Dulles, and it's pretty pricey (maybe $45 or so). Another option is BWI (Baltimore), but that's farther out yet, and I haven't personally flown in there. Any of the 3 airports would be "doable". I'm not from that area though, so if anyone who lives in that area would like to answer, maybe they could offer more insight.

Reagan National Airport is in Arlington, Va (well on the parkway right outside Arlington) and is serviced by American Airlines and Delta among others that allow pets.

With 3 airports in the vicinity, people would be able to compare pricing.

I asked a couple days ago, but didn't get a response so I'm asking again :cool: - will there be a run off poll of say the top 2 or 3 choices? Or is this poll the decision maker?

What say the committee? :)

great question. If my "city" isn't in the top 3... i'd still like to have a say in what city it will be in!