Furry Weekend Atlanta 2026 comes at a turning point in my life: I'm on another leave of absence from work, and I'm navigating what I hope is the beginning of a long-term relationship. I was hoping FWA would be my last hurrah before I returned my nose to the grindstone. Yet, coming out of FWA, I feel unfulfilled. I'd lost that sense of purpose, of enriching the furry community, and of connecting with interesting people. FWA was fun, but my heart was no fuller arriving at ATL than departing for SFO.
A lot of this comes from my cynicism of the topic du jour: "AI". I used to be proud of my interest in computers and technology, but these days, technology feels more evil than good. And, amidst my own career turmoil, I felt insecure talking about career stuff. Previous conventions, I would prepare talking points to share, but at this convention, I didn't really feel like talking, and let out my convention energy in more, uh, primal ways.
I thought FWA 2026 was a very well run convention. It took about as long to register as it did to walk the length of the line; the queues for the Dealers Den, After-dark Dealers Den, and Moonlight Festival were well organized; and I hardly had any issues with the elevators in any of the three main hotels.
Feeling more comfortable in Babyfur spaces. I went to a couple of Babyfur parties this convention. They were great! I'd been shy about engaging with Babyfur spaces in the past because I was afraid of the label, but I was glad to indulge this convention.
Weaning myself off of caffeine before the convention. In previous conventions, I'd experienced recurring headaches, or otherwise felt pressure to wake up early in the morning to beat the coffee line. Not having the pressure of caffeine, nor the side effects of withdrawal, was so relieving and gave me the mental energy to engage at the convention.
Be more intentional about who I'm spending my time with. I wish I dedicated more time to spend with existing friends, rather than chasing the high of meeting new people. I'm ashamed of myself for neglecting some close friends. Next convention, I want to keep a short-list of friends to dedicate an afternoon to.
Letting my horniness get the better of me. I went to a couple parties that were hot in my mind, but in hindsight were too risky for my tolerance. I felt I also let my horniness get ahead of my integrity: I was overeager with a few people, which I think left a bad first impression. Next convention, I want to focus much, much more on building connections and friendships.