Yeah, I'm busting your chops

. I asked rhetorically. You know how many people in the U.S. would kill to be within a five hour drive to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum? It's on more than a few peoples' bucket lists...The Kannapolis show is nice and has vendors(!), and the 50 exhibits will, undoubtedly, be very good. However, they're not even close to what's in the museum. You won't see anything like what is there anywhere else outside of Japan (including Japan, if you count Imperial Household bonsai that are seen by invitation only).
You say you'd like to get more involved in doing "bonsai stuff." Well, a trip to the Museum is pretty much that...PM me if you decide to go. I'd be glad to show you around...