Australian Furry Having Trouble Getting to a Furcon

Hey, Papabear.

I've been planning to go to a furry convention for some time. Ever since I told my parents about the furry fandom, they've been okay with it and will let me go to a furry convention when they happen.

However, I've run into some roadblocks in my plans of going to furry conventions. One of them being where I live. Sydney is the closest that hosts furry conventions. That and well-known furry gatherings like FurJAM. The problem is that at least from what I've seen, they either have VERY limited space to register for furries to go in (like Harbor City Fur Con) or they use PayPal only which my card wasn't accepted and neither parent has that (FurJAM).

There's also overseas ones that are also well-known (like Anthrocon and Midwest Furfest) and air travel on top of the other expenses like registration and essentials would be too expensive for an Australian like me who'd probably never get to go if I get work again because work should take priority. Going to a furry convention for fun instead of working makes me seem selfish and not caring about working (or maybe that's my anxiety talking).

It also doesn't help that air travel costs so much in Australia, that it's put me off trying to save up right now.

When MWFF happened this year and overseas furry friends I knew were going and seeing their posts on social media like Twitter having fun, I felt even more lonely and depressed than I usually get at times. I'd sometimes just cry because of not being able to go and the sheer lack of local furry friends in my life. At least if I had local furry friends around my age, it'd be a lot more bearable and I'd be able to cope with not going.

I fear I might never be able to go considering my circumstances. I've always wanted to go to Midwest and Anthrocon or even just local cons but if the money option is Paypal, I might as well give up. I'd love to meet furries who've inspired me, brought me some honest happiness and were kind to me but it all just feels like a distant dream where I wake up and feel an emptiness in my heart that aches so bad, I wanna cry.

Damn it, I already am.

A sad and lonely dog,
-Sam the dog

* * *

Dear Sam,

Good for you that you recognize that getting a job and an income is more important than attending a furcon. Priorities. First, focus on getting some income. If you haven't already, open up a bank account, then open a PayPal account and link it to your bank account. That will make it much easier for you to process transactions online, whether for furry stuff or almost anything else (I don't work for PayPal, but I absolutely love their service!)

I would not try to go to an overseas convention if you can't even get to an Aussie one. Start saving up for that. There are several in Australia now that are much more attainable for you than flying to Pittsburgh or Chicago would be. In addition to FurJam and Harbor City Furcon in Sydney, there is Confurgence in Melbourne, NeonFur in Queensland, and (although a big of a trek) West Aussie Fur Frenzy and Fur Out West in Western Australia. 

Start getting more active in Australian online communities. Work hard to make friends. Perhaps you can find some to ride share with and/or share hotel rooms with. This is how it's done, hon. There are no shortcuts or magic potions. How do you make friends online with furries? Answer: be friendly! And don't make it all about you; show interest in other people's lives and be supportive of them.

Good luck!
Papabear​