We have had 2 KT gatherings here at our home in Iowa. 2003 we had about 42 people! We made it a weekend affair. Friday night picnic type supper, Saturday noon sandwiches and then we had a meal for Saturday evening. On Sunday morning I had muffins and fruit type come and go set up. We were out in our garage eating most of the meals. It was a BLAST!!! But I sure took one heck on a nap on Sunday afternoon!! We had a few activities, but for the most part we just sat around and talked! About half (prob more) the people brought their spouses and it was just so much fun!

We did it again in 2005. There were 28 people that came for that one. We still had a wonderful time, and it was alot of returning friends with a bunch of new ones thrown in! We made a weekend with that one also.

Hayjud had a gathering in her Minnesota home in 2002, we went to that one also. I think there were about 20 of us for a Saturday afternoon meeting at a rose garden and then to their place for pizza. LOTS of fun, for most of us, it was the first time we had all met!

I know there was a large in Texas, and also a few out in California.

I am who I am, on the net or in real life...I couldn't make up things and try and keep it all straight! LOL So I have no problem meeting anyone from the KT.....as long as they are the same way! (and so far so good!!!)

As far as I can remember, I have only met two people through the internet. One was a 15 y/o boy that badly wanted banana plants and lived about an hour away from me, near a mall that I go to quite often. I dug him up 4 large plants, different varieties. He and his mother met us at the mall, he grabbed his plants, said thanks and took off. LOL I still "talk" to him from time to time and his banana collection has really grown. This past winter I lost all my banana plants and let him know. His only response was "awww, that's too bad". LOL Oh well.

Another time I met this fellow named Gary from a palm forum I used to frequent. He is a grower and delivers his palms all over SC, NC and VA. I happened to see his truck at a local store so I stopped and introduced myself. He is highly respected in the "palm community" so I felt like I had met a celebrity. :)

I've talked to quite a few people on the phone, one from the KT that was very helpful when my DD was having some troubles. Most that I have talked with were due to plant exchanges.

There is one living within a few miles of my city and she was suppose to call me for lunch. She did not call. Some people are afraid of their neighbor much less a total stranger. I think it would have been fun.

First KT'er I met was Nita, her DH and Bobby.
The very same week, Donna OH and her sister drove down and spent two nites with me. I in return, drove up to Donna's couple months later.

Been lucky to go to several get-togethers, one here in town, and Linda from GA, who has a DD and family here, we'll meet and have lunch occasionally.

My DS happened to meet Lana LKGrace, on a business call. He practically fell on his feet, when she told him LOTS about him :o) Think now they chat when he makes his business call to her office.

Lots and lots of fun getting to know internet people. THEY ARE REAL :O)

I, in fact, met Carole SWF, on a cruise, we had both booked and didn't know it until I was talking about my pending cruise on the KT.

I've met several KT peeps. GingerTN was my first, then I met Flamingo (whom I have met up with again numerous times), Charlee (twice now I think) and Jen_TX last year. All are super nice people... probably nicer than the people I know in real life. lol

I've met several KT members as well as members of another (watergardening) forum, and I have participated in several local plant exchanges, put together by gardenweb members in the area. Never met anyone that wasn't exceptionally nice.

I've met quite a few. It's always fun to meet new people and I've never had a bad experience with any that I've met up with.

I haven't met any yet

I have met many KTers. We had a couple of KT lunches in CA when I lived there. I have met Nita 3 times. I also attended
both of Dean and Sandy's Iowa KT parties. Back in 2002 when I was on the East Coast visiting family, I went to VA and stayed with Wanda and Stan. It is like going to a high school reunion. Everyone I have met has been very nice.

Many, many from here and AOL message boards. My first web-based group was a GH group on Compuserve - 15 years ago. We had a gathering in Gettysburg one Saturday for lunch and sightseeing - about 8-10 of us.
Met a couple of AOL GH message board people in Palm Beach about 7-8 years ago.

When I was traveling for work, I met up with some KT'ers in a few cities when I was there for work.

First KT group gathering was in Honeybrook,Pa - back in 2002.
Also was at both gatherings at Sandy's in Iowa, Dances in Windsor,On, and three of us got together just last summer in Lancaster,Pa.

I have not met anyone from the KT, but I have met several people from a brain tumor support forum that I have belonged to since 1999. We are a tight knit group of about 8 that were all diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. We've supported each other through some very tough times. We meet up in different places throughout the year. We chat online daily and they have all become my second family. One lives in Waterford, Ireland and has made two visits to CA, just recently in April of this year. Another from WA will be visiting me in Sept. for a few days.

I've met a number of KTers over the years. Terri_PacNW has been to my home with her youngest son. I've attended two gatherings here in CA where I met Nita and Linda Iowa and several others. Monica_PA and I had lunch as did Louise from No CA and I and NaughtyKitty and I. Met Linda in GA, Liz_GA, Audry and a few others at a gathering in Las Vegas. There are several we no longer see here at the KT but it was still a lot of fun getting to know them. On the road I've met up with GingerTN and PoohBear. Looking forward to meeting Casey when she comes to town in Sept and possibly Moni when she and her group rides through on their West Coast bike tour.

Jodi-

I've met a bunch of KT'ers, I didn't keep a list but it's probably near 45 or so. It helps that I live near a tourist town!

Like Lydia said, some of them have gone on to be my closest and best friends and we get together as often as we can and enjoy each others company immensely. They are like the sisters I never had and I adore them.

And some of the KT'ers? I have to stop and think "did I actually meet her or do I just think I have because I feel so close to her?" Like Jodi- I feel like we've met! lol

I've only met two. Not many come this far in the boonies, but I was overjoyed to meet Nita and Carol! Sweet,sweet gals!
My DD that posts here Yankeegirl and DGS Drew went with me.

How many have I met? I'd have to sit down and think really hard to make sure I had everyone on it! I've been to Sandy's once, Met Flamingo, My very first was in Niagara Falls. I drove 5 hours all by my self (I'm a chicken distance/city driver!), crossed the border and all, just to meet some of the Canadian bunch and had a blast for the weekend! Yes, I'd do it again, and will on our travels.

Tami

I think Hayjud and I were the original non-axe murderers, weren't we? We met at the Gardens in her city, and had a lovely time. I stopped at her house for lunch once, and she was up here a couple of times. I also was in the groups that have met at her house. I spent the day and had dinner with McPeg (Quilting bunny) in Edinborough, when she lived there. And phone calls from Nita are lovely. The swaps have been fun, in getting to know one another, and learning about their areas.

I have met so many great gals and a couple of guys from the Kitchen Table. I didn't keep a list, which I should have. Every time you meet someone it is just like you have known them all your life.

The past two years when I have gone to Florida for my Dad's birthday I have done a tour around part of the state. Last year Dances came from Canada and we had a great time meeting folks. This year Carol SWFL went with me for 5 days and we had a blast.

I have also done a couple of Texas tours with some gals and have had fun eating and laughing our way around Texas.

One Summer Bobby and I traveled for 7 weeks and met lots of folks and even stayed at their homes. You won't meet a better bunch of ladies.

If you ever get the chance to meet go, you won't regret it.

Seven or 8 years ago several cyber friends from a watergardening board met up here at our house in PA. Among them was Marilyn C and PA Nancy! What fun we had!

I love meeting internet friends and have met several from here, as well as quite a few from the crafting forums to which I belong. For several years, my husband and I hosted a Crafters Get-together in our home for a weekend of crafting and fun. One of the ladies came all the way from England. I had people sleeping all over the place, plus some at the nearby motel. Now we are just getting too old to do this any more, but it sure was fun.

I am still hoping to have that opportunity! Traveling through southern Oregon...Let's have lunch (or dinner) Nanny

I have met one who posted on the Florida Forum. Turns out she lives in the same town as me - only about a couple miles from me. We are now good friends - exchange plants, share seeds, call each other to tell what birds/butterflies we are seeing. Talk to her a couple times a week.

LOL Flamey ... I know what you mean. When I'm out and about, especially in touristy places, I see someone and think "oh, there's Glenda! or Mary Ann! or Flamey!" and then I have to think, did they post today? Yes, they did so that can't possibly be them. And I too feel like I've already met Flamey in person.

I just remembered...Wildchild and I spent a whole day together walking through beautiful Japanese Gardens and having lunch. She lives pretty close to my very best friend.

Jodi-

I've met 40-50 KTers and must say I've liked them all. Jammer and I have been invited to homes while traveling and we've had such good times.

I've met Nita and her DH.Two of the nicest people you would ever want to know.I've talked to a couple of others on the phone.Wonder if there are any close to Albuquerque?

I heard a report on the radio this week that the internet is now the number one spot people meet their significant others.

LOL Phyllis, We were real BRAVE weren't we. Our kids all thought we both went off our rockers. They were all still SURE that all internet people were hanging out waiting the take advantage of someone. Hey! None of us have time for that! LOL
It is so much fun meeting the people that you really pretty much KNOW already.

I have had a couple gatherings and been to three others, and visited some homes of cyber friends. "Haven't found a WACKO yet!"

No one from the KT, but I've met lots of cyberspace people in real life. Some from a home church forum - we had a retreat for some 70 people, and introduced ourselves by email address. Then, I had a dinner for a bunch of people from a Myers-Briggs discussion group. Very cool people. Even dated someone I'd met online once, also in a mutual-interest group.

i have 2 "private" places, and have met almost all friends on one, and one lady from the other...

on the one site we've grown very close (11 years now)...we started off as posters on hgtv, when they revamped their forum and made it less personal, one of the ladies formed a new one...

it's gotten so i don't know what i'd do without them...

I have only met one poster from the KT. But I have met a ton of them from the rose forum. I can't tell you how many offered us places to stay when we made our move across country. I post on a cross stitching board and there was a small get together just yesterday for a group of us that live in South Carolina. If I had not had to work I would have been there!

Trish in SC

I was lucky enough to get to go to the first one SandyIA had...got to meet lots of fun people.

Met Gabby and Flamingo one year when we went to Branson.

and I've had one plus her husband and a friend ride their bike from OK to IA...and they spent the night here...one slept in my yard...lol...and left a surprise out there...

There were no "axe murderers" there..but just in case...I took a spray can of "axe murder repelent" with me.

patti

Jodi, trust me- if I'm ever in CA, you'll know about it!

I do the same thing though, I see people around here and think "oh, she looks just like so-and-so!" Sometimes I dream about you peeps, too.

Years ago, the first time I was here at the KT, I met a gal from the Milwaukee area. Couldn't even tell you her name......we met with out husbands for pizza. My kids thought I was NUTS. We never saw each other again, and I quit coming to the KT for a while, so I have no clue whether she's still here or not....is there a way to see who is from Wisconsin on this forum? That would be so interesting!

Before I ever came to Kitchen Table, I posted on Gardenweb forums. Someone suggested that New York City and Long Island GW members meet. We got together at a coffee shop, there were about 10 of us. We had several more meetings around Long Island at various parks/public gardens, etc. But membership dwindled. The group was fun while it lasted. By the way, all the members were female, so GW is not a place for meeting men.

DH got into photography, joined a cyber photo group, we all got together, different people showed up every time to hike and do a shoot. All we knew about each other prior was seeing each others photos.......unlike here @ KT. :0) One word.....no two: train wreck! :0)

The first time a KTer (Kathy_VA, who no longer posts here) was coming to our home, DH was horrified--the old "axe murderer" mentality. He made it clear that he would be in another part of the house. Yeah, right. He realized how nice she was, and we didn't have two minutes alone. After that, the Welcome mat was out for KTers.

We've also had visits from Marsha_OK, Linda_in_Iowa, Nita and Bobby, Teresa, Ang, and two ladies from Our Humble Home. All have been super, and are welcome for a return visit.

Stan bonded with Bobby (Nita's grandson, who was about 10 at the time), and they had a great time. As others have said, Nita is the nicest person on the planet.

I wish I could travel all over, and I'd visit every KTer! They are the greatest!

I've been to Get Togethers in Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, Texas and have had two in my home...They are a blast...there is no quiet time cause ya already know each other sooo well!!

We had one, here, in B'ham, with 15, including the famous Tadpole.

Been to Iowa, Texas and Ga for one.

First KT'er I ever met was Nita and her wonderful family, and in the same week Donna OH came to visit me with her sister, Marilyn.

Meet Linda from Ga for lunch occasionally over the years for lunch when she comes to town to visit her daughter.

And others. I am lucky!

Oh and Karla from AK, when she showed me around Anchorage when cruising Alaska.