[Tsuwabuki]

MMM,

I am talking about the amount of money spent on MATERIALS here, especially in regards to costuming. If you think good quality material is inexpensive... I am afraid it's not. Hell, even getting the right buttons for military uniforms can be as much as $5 per button, especially if you have to ship overseas. And it just goes up from there.

But I am afraid I have to disagree with your assessment. The question is dedication to what. Not every costumer is interested in winning contests or having people marvel at their skill with a thread and needle, if that's what you're implying.

You know why I toss on some duty blues or BDU greens with the fleet? Got a cigar in one hand, and a bottle of vodka in the other, and we're gonna make some frakkin noise. It's about enjoying ourselves as an identifiable group. It's about camaraderie and family. It's about time someone pulled out the damn deck of cards, because I want some poker chips, ladies. It's all about the poker chips.

Don't suggest that I'm any less dedicated to my reason for costuming than contest-driven cosplayers are to theirs. That's unfair. I AM dedicated.

Dedicated to having a lot of fun.