Should I go to my 30th high school reunion?

My 30th high school reunion is on July 27. I was going to be in the area where it is being held anyway. Logistically, it would be no sacrifice to go. I asked my wife if she was interested and she said "no," and give me permission to go by myself if I wished.

I've never been to a reunion before and don't know what to expect. For example, I would be interested to know:

1. Is there dinner?
2. If so, how is the seating arranged?
3. Is there dancing?
4. Are there other activities?
5. How are the men supposed to dress?

Now, keep in mind that in the caste system of high school I was among the untouchables, and unpopular even among them. I pretty much spent high school in the computer room, looking to get those years over with as quickly and painlessly as possible. What few friends I had were mostly a grade after me. I hardly remember anybody in my own class, and have kept up with zero of them.

I'd like to think I've matured a little and might have the courage to actually talk to somebody outside of the circle of computer and math nerds. I'd be interested to know if everybody pretty much hangs out with their same social circle 30 years ago. Might there be some lone stragglers like me who I could talk to? Or would I be entertained just observing?

Also, keep in mind that I can always just leave early if I don't like it. So, the question for the forum is should I go?

I don't understand school reunions. I don't really care about the people I used to know.

Normally people do not go to HS reunions because they are ashamed of themselves(fat, poor, bald,etc.).
Dinner? Normally. I would think it would be obvious though based on price of attending. You should ask to be sure.
Dancing? I don't remember, probably not. If people went to a bar afterward, possibly, but optional.
Other activities? No, not official.
Dress? Suit and tie.

You should go and so should your wife. Life is short and take the opportunity to go while your few friends are still alive. It's fun. You drink and socialize and reminisce.

Quote: Wizard

1. Is there dinner?
2. If so, how is the seating arranged?
3. Is there dancing?
4. Are there other activities?
5. How are the men supposed to dress?

Now, keep in mind that in the caste system of high school I was among the untouchables, and unpopular even among them.

I never went to mine, but I happened to ask my sister just recently about hers. (like last 2 weeks). She said people tended to gravitate to the same clicks, though maybe without the immaturity of jocks/nerds or whatever. Men looked more worse for wear than the women did.

There was dancing. But usually married couples There was a dinner. They also scheduled some outside activities, but she didn't attend those, just the main function.

I imagine these things have slight variations in theme, so it's hard to predict what any one of them is going to be like. The one I didn't go to had a big group photo done. (that's the only thing I checked out -- but online)

Quote: TheCesspit

I don't understand school reunions. I don't really care about the people I used to know.

And probably care less about the people you didn't know. So the Wizard, who didn't really have that many friends in high school, will have even less of an incentive to go find out who is a millionaire, who did the most time in prison, who married whom, who got fat, who stayed thin.

Face it, if you really didn't care about them then and they didn't care about you then.... there ain't no big deal in pretending a sudden interest in looking at old high school year books and gossiping as if you were still in high school.

Now if there is a casino nearby then ...

Thanks for the comments thus far. Reminiscing is not a not a major reason I would go. I would enjoy going to the class of '84 reunion much more, but in my own class I didn't know that many people. My interest is more to just see what a reunion is like. I like to try new experiences. If I just watched from the bar I think I might have a sufficiently good time to be glad I went, even if I don't talk to many people. What I'm worried about is they sit people in tables of 8, and I'll be stuck with 7 people who know each other.

1. Yes, unless the time is odd. I think my 5 year was at a bar and started at 9pm...
2. it was self-selected at my 10 year, not sure how others do it
3. Usually yes, unless the venue makes it impossible
4. What does the invite say? My dad's 30th was at a winery. No dancing, but wine-tasting as another activity.
5. somewhere between semi-formal and business casual, unless the invite says differently. My mom's 20th was a cheesy formal prom reenactment, but other than that, you're overdressed in a 3 piece suit and under dressed without a collared shirt.

Reunions aren't a custom in Mexico (thank Apollo!), but from time to time some poeple try it. Some years ago I got an email about one, to be held at someone's house. What really puzzled me was how they'd gotten my email. This was in the days before Google (literally, Google didn't exist then; searches used Altavista and Yahoo!) Then I found out that they got it from my older brother, via a complicated, twisting trail.

I warned my brother never to give out my email to anyone from my old school for any reason at any time without checking with me first.

That should tell you what I think of class reunions. But that's just me.

I have very little information about it. Just that it is being held on the Queen Mary and lasts from 7 PM to midnight. Here is a link.

I also see from this site the reunion chairperson is a popular girl who I would have never dared to speak with in high school. She was about 18 levels above me in the high school caste system. Come to think of it, I didn't dare to speak to any girl in high school. Maybe one reason for my interest in going is to finally have a conversation with one of them.

I also am curious how they found me. They seem to have enlisted the help of Great Reunions, which does hundreds of them, and are good at sniffing people out. They also found me for two I missed while I lived in Baltimore.

Somebody either invited me or put me in a Facebook group for our 25th. They attempted a10th in year 11 and made no attempt to contact most people. Kicker was I almost went to where it was by chance! I am in no mood to go to the 25th or any other. I am FB friends with a few which is good enough. I didn't like the whole HS thing then and do not care to relive it. Judging by your description you and I had interchangeable high school years.

As to what they are like I say expect it to depend on who organizes it. But a guess is dinner, bar time, and maybe a DJ. The invitation should give some idea. I voted to skip it, but that is me. I dislike crowds and structured dinners.