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LIFESTYLES GOES BICOASTAL - AGAIN By Steve Mason Our very first attempt at hosting a LIFESTYLES convention far from home was an incredible success. That was last year, in 2002. Of course, I should say I never had any doubts but to be truthful I did. All our previous experience was split between California and right next door in Nevada. All of us at the office were familiar with the local clubs and their members. We also knew we could count on the tens of thousands of couples who belong to LSO. But traveling cross-country to virgin (figuratively speaking) territory was a challenge. Fortunately the newest members of our family, Holly, Doc, Cindy and more recently Bruce and Dixie all had extensive Florida connections. So that event turned out to be, as I said, an incredible success. All the local clubs and their members welcomed us with all out support. Indeed, it seemed everyone in that part of the world knew we were coming to Miami. This year, 2003, turned out to be even better. When I flew down, the Radisson was still short of being sold out due to the war and threats of terrorism, airline cancellations and a sagging economy. It reminded me of nothing quite so much as the early '90's when our LA convention coincided perfectly with the LA riots. LAX was shut down because of smoke from the fires obscuring the runways and the hotel we used doubled as a staging area for the police. There were never fewer than about 100 black and whites in the parking lot. Needless to say, this made it an exceedingly secure area but all those guns and badges did cause more than a couple of couples to scurry. Not so in Miami! Despite the country's current woes, people were not to be denied a short but hardy party. They came out in droves once we got there and more than filled out our numbers. The beach along Collins Avenue was very much as remembered from it from the year before and from when I lived there with my wife as two hot-to-trot Swingers. The place just oozes passion. I don't know if it's the feel of the tropical air or the scent of the lush foliage or the sound of the swelling surf or some magical combo but there's a throbbing feeling of lust down there that's not to be denied. Nor was it. From the very beginning, the crowd was up for fun. Unlike other conventions, where the early hours are spent getting comfortable with the group, most of the attendees in Miami turned out to be experienced - and already very comfortable - members of the Lifestyle. Although there were more newbies than last year, they were once again swept into the fold before they had a chance to worry about how to behave. It was a very friendly gathering even for an LSO convention…and it doesn't get much friendllier than that! As usual, the convention included a wide range of speakers. Topics covered everything from ancient methods of sexual arousal to a few far more current bisexual insights. The Adult MarketPlace featured a similarly broad range of sexy products and services designed specifically to stimulate your libido and enhance your relationship. There were vibrators and triple X videos to be sure but there were also an ever increasing number of cyberspace curios and special interest Internet groups on hand. We are fast becoming a computerized world in general and the more specific world of the Lifestyle is no exception. Oh - and don't forget the special hypnosis show and the orchestrated couples massage workshop. The latter is something that has to be seen to be believed. About the only thing we didn't offer was an Orientation session. Last year we stocked up with prizes and gifts for an audience of about 100 but only two - count 'em - two couples showed up! Needless to say, they won everything hands down and were delighted! But the fact that so few showed up to learn about the Lifestyle and our convention suggested they already knew all they needed to know and were already outside enjoying the very possibilities we were prepared to describe. This year would probably have been different though because, as I said, there were so many newbies. So next year we'll most likely reinstate the Orientation session with prizes and gifts enough for 100 couples. Keep this in mind and you may just get lucky. Because we took over the whole hotel and because of our location right on the topless beach, there was a non-stop parade of toned and tanned flesh. The local ladies in their thongs would have no problem at all holding their own against even our legendary SoCal girls. And they were shown to great advantage strolling along the line of cabanas set up by Florida Swing clubs and the resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean that our members visit through LT&T tours. There were wet T-shirt contests and no T-shirt contests and…well…you get the idea. The sun, the music and the rum pm punch made it all part of a truly ideal poolside setting. Inside there were the evening theme dances complete with pulsing JD's and flashing lights …or was it the other way around? The huge circular bar in the lobby also did a pulsating, flashing business and had to be one of the hottest spots in all Miami. Couples strolled from one area to another, dancing fast, dancing slow, walking to the moonlit beach and then starting all over again. And once again, through it all, the hotel turned out to be just great. Looking behind the scenes, one might well imagine that problems involving the on-site management and/or staff occasionally occur. It's part of being in the mega party business. Well, would you believe zero/nada/zip? The only headache was, as is always the case, keeping outsiders out. But after a while even the security team wore smiles as they repeated twenty times every twenty minutes "No, you can not come in just to make a phone call." Where else do you find the people working and the people playing having an equally good time…almost? The good news is we've been invited back in 2004 and the great news is we're going! And if you want to be included, forget all that stuff you heard about the Bermuda Triangle and plan on joining us in sunny So Flo next Spring. Better still, plan on joining us in fabulous Las Vegas for our fabulous 30th anniversary LIFESTYLES convention August 6th through to the 10th. Our hotel will be right on the Strip; right in the middle of all the action and everything wicked that Sin City has to offer. And don't forget our first international LIFESTYLES convention in Acapulco that's set for November 5th through to the 9th. Our gatherings already draw couples from all over the U.S. and dozens of foreign countries but this will be something extra special. And a good thing, you won't need a book of translations to understand the body language that's sure to be spoken South of the Boarder down Mexico way. Click here for information on future conventions! |