Skip ahead eight years.... (tongue in cheek... but...?)...
Here is my observing schedule. I've put it together in November 2011 so I
can be able to enjoy my hobby in 2012.
January 14 at Henry Coe through the Friends Of Coe
January 21 at Portola State Park with Moondogies Observers
February 18 at Dinosaur Point through the Night Crawler Anglers
February 26 at Plettstone - Michelle's private astro retreat is *the* place!
March 17 at Fremont Peak via the FPOA (who in 2004 opened the door to
concession arrangements)
March 24 at Mount Tam....
and goes on like that twice a month, basically, where I obtain access to
observing sites mostly in state parks, by joining clubs.
A friend asked me about going observing and I point them to a web-page
(gotta join a club to see it though) showing all the various associations
and clubs that serve as concessions at this park and that - what the fees
are to join - what their individual rules are, and so on.
I also tell them about how it used to be, years ago, when you could just go
to a state park and use it, without having to be a "member" of some special
club. Back then, the state would just raise or lower the park fees to
reflect the cost of operations. Seemed easy, but someone decided it was
easier to make the users actually manage the costs.
I am now a member of 16 groups to enjoy various hobbies at the state
parks... my yearly dues to them comes to $400, if they aren't raised, or if
the state doesn't tack on some special use fees this year.
But what the heck... gotta pay for our fun somehow... right?
See ya'll under the stars. I hope nobody finds a way to make us pay for
those too...
Mark