Groupvergence 2022

Over an extended version of the last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending an event with 20+ of Megan’s friends, most of whom I know on some level (and would consider many of them my friends as well).

In years past, this group of friends attended a geeky convention involving fun, silly, and nerdy events. Eventually they decided just to have a small version of the convention for themselves, and it became an annual friends reunion of sorts. I’ve heard many stories about it, but this was the first year I could attend.

We rented a big vacation property just outside Branson, Missouri, and after quarantining the week before the event (and making sure everyone was vaccinated/boosted), over 4 days we ate, drank, played games, and participated in a number of whimsical events. The house itself was huge; it included a massive covered deck in the back, a tiered home theater, at least 10 bedrooms (each with its own private bath), two game rooms, an indoor basketball course, a large kitchen with two of everything, and a hot tub/swimming pool combo.

I’ll quickly run through some of the events:

Marble Derby: This was like the Kentucky Derby, but with a bracketed tournament of marbles, each with their own backstory and odds. We bet with Monopoly money and could buy nice prizes with the money throughout the event. There was also a fun roulette wheel and side bets on anything you desired.

Spelling Bee: The real name for the event was “drunken spelling bee,” but the level of drinking was entirely up to the participants–we’re getting older and more responsible, so while the weekend was a nice way to let loose, it was almost always within moderation. I really enjoyed this event–I haven’t had to spell words in front of people since elementary school!

Gaming and Crafting: We played a lot of games over the weekend, and the weather was so nice that we were able to play most of the games on the patio.

Drinking Panel: This is a tradition at this event that I sense is waning a bit, but it was still fun. A few people are on a panel, and they’re given small glasses of various alcohol to sip. The drinks are selected by other people in the room, and they range from drinks people enjoy to the oddest drinks you might find in a liquor store. It was fun, and the panel members were good sports about the odd selection of beverages, including an egg liquor.

Marshmallow Game: With Squid Game all the rage earlier this year, I thought it would be fun to host a similar–but far less violent–event, and I used marshmallows as the theme. It was a series of schoolyard-style games, most for individuals but some in groups/teams. I found painting suits online so we could all look like marshmallows. I’ll make a video about the event soon–I’m my own worst critic, but aside from a few challenges, I thought the event went well and that people had fun.

Steven Universe: I actually don’t have a great photo of this event, so I’ll use the nice photo below instead. A few fans of the Steven Universe TV show decorated a room with a really beautiful array of balloons and drapes, and the host made mixed drinks based on each of the show’s characters. It made me want to watch it for the first time (it’s on HBO Max).

Overall, I had a really wonderful time. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and there are a number of talented chefs among this group, so the food was delicious. I maintained my rice cooker over the 4 days so there was always a warm bowl of rice for anyone who needed something filling (and I made fried rice on one of the days). I look forward to future Groupvergences!

Do you attend any annual events like this? What are some of your favorite traditions or memories from them?