Getting to know people online is great. Finally meeting them in person is weird. It's like meeting some great friends you've never met before. At first all you have is online stories to relate to. By the end of the get together, DW for example, you have some in person experiences.
So far, because of DRN I've been to IL, OK, WV, MA, NY, NJ, PA, NH, CT, VT, and of course RI. I've also ridden in Canada with Flyinkaw and Hucker. The topper was when my daughter found her husband through DRN.
The cool factor never seems to end. We have a community like no other in this site, and all it takes to be a part of it is to decide to participate. If someone shows up here with genuine intentions they will be welcomed to the group with open arms. Conversely, if someone shows up at our doorstep with the intention of causing trouble or doing harm you can expect us to defend our internet home.
BTW Tony, you forgot
Hot Damn!
and those fireside sammiches that oldguy made one year.
Oh yeah, getting to meet, really meet, Jeff Freddette, Malcom Smith, Kenny Bartram, etc.