For the first time since my freshman year of high school, I won’t be attending New York Comic Con this year. It’s a disappointment, for sure, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t share the top five things I would be doing if I was there. I have no doubt in my mind that the Latin midterm I’ll be taking over break will be quite the party (who knows, maybe it’ll be even more fun than Comic Con!), but from Thursday through Sunday, I’ll definitely feel like I’m missing out a bit.

So, here are the top five things I’m doing at NYCC (in spirit):

1. Extreme Cosplaying: Who cares if it’s not perfect?

If you’re going to go to Comic Con, chances are you’re dressing up as some of your favorite characters. Whether your costume is home-made, store-bought, a slightly underwhelming first attempt, or looks like a professional was behind its creation, suiting up just makes the experience more fun. There are always going to be cosplay supremacists who think that some first-timer’s just isn’t good enough, but in my opinion, the whole point of cosplay is to enjoy yourself and use it as a way to easily find others with the same interests as you. Who cares if it isn’t award-worthy? If you had a good time putting it together, and more importantly, wearing it, then congrats! It was a success! (Plus, who doesn’t love the confused looks you get from tourists on the train?)

(Pictured: Myself as Bucky Barnes for NYCC 2014, complete with home-made arm)

2. Stuffing as many comics as possible into a backpack that shouldn’t actually be able to fit more than a quarter of that amount, and doing so without damaging a single one.

One of my favorite parts of any comic book convention is getting my comics signed by the creative teams. Why choose just five to take with you when you can take 20? I’ve got this nifty backpack (thanks, Mom!) that not only goes with almost any cosplay, but also can fit a surprisingly large number of comics. I like to call myself a professional crammer, and I have successfully brought a ton of single issues and graphic novels in one go to conventions, which has left me with a fairly impressive (if I do say so myself) collection of signed comics.

(Pictured: Some of my signed comics from NYCC)

3. Meeting my favorite creators for the first (or second … or third … or 10th) time.

Not gonna lie, I’ve gone back to some of my favorite writers and artists twice in one day, or more than one day in a row, to get more comics signed, but also just to chat. It’s super (pun intended?) cool to be able to actually speak to people about their work and creative process, and see how passionate they are about what they do. Most of them are incredibly friendly and will be open to having a longer conversation with you if there aren’t too many people waiting behind you. There are more and more creators every year, and if someone’s not there the first time around, they very well might be the next. Or, they might be regulars, and you may be getting slightly concerned that they’re starting to recognize you every day at every convention.

(Pictured: Me with writer Marguerite Bennett, encounter number six)

4. Spending just a little too much money.

You’re going to end up wandering the show floor and Artist Alley several times while you’re at NYCC, and you’re going to see a bunch of stuff that you may not necessarily need, but they would definitely spruce up your desk, wall, or closet. Bonus points if it’s an action figure or statue of a character that you already have three others of, but this one is in a slightly different pose and the costume is just so cool on this one. You know you already own too many T-shirts, but you don’t have one with that logo yet. And socks are a necessity. No wall space? You can definitely find some for those prints by that artist you fell in love with last time.

(Pictured: Something I definitely did not buy at NYCC, I swear)

5. Waiting in line.

I honestly don't know what you were expecting. You’re at NYCC, so half your day is probably going to consist of line after line after line, whether it’s to pay for your merch, go to the bathroom, get out of the bathroom, get into a panel, get the wristband that lets you wait in the line to get into the panel, get some water, get an autograph, get on the escalator, get to the escalator … you get the point. It’s not Comic Con if you’re not waiting in lines, some of which are for things that there really shouldn’t be lines for. You’ll whine about it a little, but in the end, it’s so worth it. (Plus, a lot of the fun happens in line! Meeting other fans, watching the hustle and bustle all around you, seeing some creators rushing to panels or trying to slip away for their break without being swarmed, to name a few!)

(Pictured: Is this a crowd, a line, or people who just don’t know where they’re supposed to be going?)

There’s obviously so much more to NYCC, and I’ve got some really fond memories of all the good times I’ve had there over the past four years. Here’s to hoping that I’ll be able to go next year!