Moving day. Fun.
Four hundred twenty-five of us (375 delegates plus 1 alternate for each state) gathered at five in the morning at the basketball arena of the Wichita State (Kansas) Shockers. This location chosen as it was close the the geographical center of the contiguous US while also not being so populous that security would be difficult.
I was one of the last to arrive at the designated hotel yesterday. I said goodbye to the family when I left. If our staging area was a more touristy city, I’d have left earlier so we could spent time exploring. I confess that I don’t know a lot about Wichita — I’m sure it’s a lovely place — but could justify dragging along anyone else other than me.
We spent four hours having every item in our bags scrutinized and our persons being scanned, and if necessary, probed for contraband. That prison analogy I gave is seeming increasingly apt. Once everyone was cleared, we were loaded onto buses and headed off to the airport (I don’t know why we didn’t do this all there) to board a 747 for Nevada.
Yep. Nevada. Lots of space, lots of hot, and not a lot of anything else.
From the air base (yep…no public airport this time) we were loaded onto troop carriers and spent the next hour or so being driven into the desert. We finally arrived at the Middle-of-Nowhere Correctiona….er, Contitutional Facility.
After ID checks through three different gates, had another ID check at a gate about a mile farther on (they really don’t want us to wander off), and then about another couple of miles to the compound. Finally.
It’s not exactly posh but I’ve been in hotels that were a lot worse. It was all temporary military structures. Six buildings (dorms) connected with enclosed walkways faced another building that contained offices, a library, and a large chamber for all of us to gather.
Each of the dorm buildings has a small cafeteria with snack machines, a small gym, and a recreation area (table tennis, pool table, game consoles, card tables, various games). Each person has a single room with a bed, upright wardrobe, chest of drawers, a double bed, a desk, three chairs (I guess if we have company), an enclosed toilet-sink-faucet combo (that prison analogy keeps rearing its head), and an entertainment console. Showers/bath are shared at various places — I think for every six rooms.
Like I said: I’ve been in fleabags that weren’t nearly this nice.
I’m in D4-R23 (dorm 4, room 23). I decided to unpack first so I’d be squared away. I’m glad I did, because less than fifteen minutes after walking into my room an announcement blared telling us to gather in the main hall.
…and I think I’ll leave that for the next post.
