Actually, a fair few posters DO publish their email addresses - it's a choice you can make in your profile, I think.

And back before registration, I seem to recall that email addresses did show up for all posts...

Also, what has often happened in my case is that I may be participating in a thread about someone's visit to Europe or Africa and we've obviously become friendly, enough to know a little about each other such as where we both live... and then they book their flights and find that they are travelling via London and one or other suggests we meet up whilst they are here... and then we'll swap contact details in the thread if our email addresses aren't already on display.

And of course, there are threads where someone organises a GTG open to anyone in their area...

I've met somewhere in the range of 80-100 Fodorites at GTG's in the states. I regularly meet some of them for dinner or drinks when I'm in their part of the country. If we are dropping names here are a few.
Rex, Indytravel, Bookchick, Cigalechanta, Marcy_, Starspinner, Carolyn, NPurpleh2,Mermaid, GPanda, Budman, Cimbrone, Starrsville, TPatricco, Ellenm, Auntgrapes, Rhea, Hunnym, Jersey, Suny16, cmt, Nikki, Neopatrick, Seetheworld, Suki, ValeriesGallery, Laartista, lcuy,rhkkmk, AGMcapecod, gomiki. Sorry, my CRS has kicked in making me forget the other names.

Picture links for all of the NY/NJ GTG's.
http://www.pbase.com/tpatricco/root

Link for pictures from early GTG's starting in 1999.
http://fodorite.fisherfowler.net/

Yikes, I just remembered that the very first fodorite I met was JJ5. How could I forget that -- we had such a great time together here in Toronto!

Sorry JJ!

Oh, heaps and heaps of you; and at least 2 meetings planned for later this year.

As of last night I can add Texan "LarryRGV" and his lovely wife Patty. They were visiting L.A. and we met for dinner. Such an enjoyable evening! Among other things, we compared our notes on China, since they journeyed a few months after our return.

I believe that Fodorites can meet anywhere and feel they have been friends for years. We proved it last night right here in rainy L.A.

Stu T.

I'd love to meet some fellow Foderites at the Toronto GTG if at all possible!! Just need to know times and dates. We live about 1 1/2 hrs east of there, so it would work!! AnselmAdorne was kind enough to email me his "Cooking from a Suitcase" blog, which has really helped me put our France trip in May together. Look forward to meeting you all!!
Cathy Toner

Playfield - I'll bite! My DH & I will be in Paris 16th(arrive) till 22nd May. It would be great to GTG!
Let me know nearer the time - we fly out on 29th April to UK.

Okay - NOT Europe....but when I was in Cairo last October, I had lunch with sunshine007 and Casual_Cairo! It was great fun!

LJ, thank you! It's so wonderful to have met new friends on Fodor's.

Goddess, I'm so slow, I just figured out today who you are!!!!

As others have mentioned, we had a wonderful Toronto GTG and I was so pleased to meet the gang.
I look forward to this year's GTG.

I met ElenDilPickle in Albuquerque at Christmas.

When in NZ I met Dotty from Wellington. What a pleasure! She and her husband took us for a wonderful tour of the city.

Seven years ago, while in Ireland I had dinner with a woman from Virginia. At that time people thought we were crazy and sure we were really meeting up with an ax murderer.

Godesstogo, I just figured out who you are too! You mentioned everyone at the mini TO GTG except hdm and Moolyn and I know I'm no goddess so you must be hdm. I have to say your new screen name suits you beautifully. When did you change? I've though of choosing something more glamorous too.

To answer the question, the first person I met was Carlux in France. We rented a house through her in Sarlat. The next was toedtoes in Niagara Falls. We went on the Maid of the Mist together. I also met all the wonderful people who attended both the Toronto GTGs. We couldn't believe how much we all seemed to have in common.

Plus, I've corresponded with quite a few by email such as stcirq, cigalechanta, sheila richie, tcreath, robjame, anselmeadorne, annhig, fun4all4, anna and a few others.

All these new friends and acquaintances in just two years on Fodors!

Moolyn! I knew there was someone else at the table -- it was driving me crazy! I also can't remember the name of the woman who came with Raquel.

I changed my name because I want more anonimity on this board and my initials and some of the things I write about are too telling. I used goddesstogo on Travelerstogo so I thought I'd bring it over here. Tres glamorous, isn't it?

A message for Cathy Toner ...

Hi Cathy. Looks like the Toronto GTG is starting to germinate. Early days yet, and no specific dates, but you can follow the news on this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35104544

Anselm

Goddess, where is travelerstogo?
Maybe I could be koditogo!!!
Then everyone could see it as codit-o-go !!

The other Fodorite at our table was Pat from Winnipeg.

To all: In reviving this thread, I can happily announce that this morning, at Jerry's Deli in Westwood (UCLA), I had a beautiful breakfast meeting with zwho and her DH. They were on their way to Mexico on a cruise...I brought along my "stuff" on Poland and Hungary as they are going there in the late spring.

They are very warm and charming Missourians. Felt like we've know one another for years!

Unfortunately my DW couldn't come along today...so that makes EKSCRUNCHY, LarryRGV and Zwho ...each of whom I've had the distinct pleasure of meeing this past year...Great little club we have here, folks! Hope everyone appreciates it as I do!

Happy travels, everyone!

Stu T.

Hey tcreath -

If you want a Charlotte GTG let me know! I'm up for it.

Well. I have met many of the people that post here.

At first my family thought I was nuts. But since, they have met some of you too.

The sad thing is that people who live in Europe are not that easy to see when you only travel there once a year or less.

But I really must say that I have enjoyed every one of the people.

And I hope to many more of you in the future.

Toronto GTG -
Please put my/our name down for the Toronto - GTG. My husband and I live in Kitchener/Waterloo and I moved from Toronto 6 years ago.

Mathieu: my email address is [email protected]

We will be visiting/arriving Venice April 20th for 6 days, ending in Milan 2 weeks later with stays in Lake Como and Lake Garda in between.
If anyone is visiting these areas in this time-frame it would be wonderful to get together for a drink.

Yesterday I spent the day in Paris with susanna and we walked(and laughed) a LOT! I'm glad we could make it yesterday since it is raining today. :-)

Hi celticmoon. Fellow-poster moolyn has been keeping the Toronto GTG e-mail list up-to-date. I'll send her an email to alert her that you'd like to be on the mailing list.

Last I heard we're looking at a Saturday evening in August. Should be fun.

Anselm