Hooray for a fun conference! And post-paper-session drinking buddies! Good to hear that you were healthy enough to deliver your presentation and enjoy yourself. As far as audiences go, I'd take quality over quantity any time. And while it would be an extremely sad thing to have less fanfiction from you over the summer if you decide to write articles instead, we probably should be generous and happy for your academic field because it'll be its gain ...

I hear you on the hotel WiFi. There are some hotels over here that charge up to eight Euros an hour (I've even seen thirteen, but that's not the kind of hotels at which I stay). I gave in to the temptation and got myself a USB modem for mobile internet access when my mobile phone carrier last tried to tempt me into extending my contract by offering me a widget. It's heaven. Yes, one can spend lonely hotel evenings without doing work fanficcing, emailing, LJing or Skyping home. But that doesn't mean one has to.