I let a friend drag me to some of the anime cons in the area when I was in college. I even let her dress me up as things. But it wasn't until I attended my first Dragon*Con about five years ago that I really understood what conventions could be like and why people love them so much. I would flat out move into that con if I could. It's my favorite weekend all year, because not only is there a lot to see and do, but every time I go I learn something.