Monday, October 16, 2006

Is it worth attending your high school reunion?

Like many people in my late 30s I have the question of attending my 20th high school reunion.

Overall the trip costs $350 for the plane ticket and another $400 in mandatory expenses - such as taxi, meals, gifts, etc.... Plus $150 attendence fee.

Is it worth spending $900 to see people who haven't bothered to socialize with me for 20 years? Would it be better to schedule a private reunion with the friends I actually keep in touch with instead?

Is there a compelling business or networking reason to meet with these people?

What would you do?

Have a great week,
makingourway

4 comments:

fin_indie said...

went to my 10 yr, just skipped my 15 yr and I can't even fathom going to a 20 yr...

when you put it that way, who can argue? :)

Jim said...

I had a great time at my 10 yr reunion. I'll definitely attend my 20 yr reunion when that comes around.

Michelle said...

While I think it would be fun to go to my 20th (I'm just about 36 now), I think there is a fair amount of ego involved in the decision. I would love to see how everyone looks, what they're all doing now, where they're living, what their spouses/significant others look like and do. Why? To compare them with myself, of course. Either I'll get my ego stroked, or I'll feel inadequate. Neither is particuarly good for me.

Plus, I live in LA, and my high school is in the middle of nowhere, upstate NY. I have no family left there, so I would have to do the hotel thing on top of all the other expenses. When I think about it this way, it doesn't make any sense at all for me to go.

That's kind of a bummer, though, I think my ego would have gotten a lot of good strokes with that crowd . . . ;-)

Andi @ udandi / Lunch It Punch It said...

NO WAY!

I planned and attended my 10th with a handful of friends I've kept in touch with over the years. It wasn't nearly as fun for us because we knew who was coming and weren't surprised. Not to mention how disappointing it is to overhear people slagging on the event that we went 9 months planning and tracking all 350+ classmates so that we didn't leave anyone out. If you do not plan on going, please considering sending the organizers your regrets so they know you are aware, but choosing not to attend :)