Love/Hate
Things I love about being a Laurel/Peer
1. I get to go to council and see ALL the COOLEST stuff being made RIGHT NOW. I get to read their documentation, I get to fiddle with whatever they make, I get to have awesome critical thinking discussions about what is well researched, why or why not an item is a medieval appropriate item, and also, I get to meet a lot of REALLY cool people.
2. It makes me elevate my game. Sometimes I am good at self-motivating, and other times, I need an outside force. Well, being a Laurel raises the expectations on the level of stuff that I do on a regular basis. Because of the title, I feel that I should work harder, and do more, and keep up with things.
3. It makes me teach more in the SCA. I LOVE teaching. I really do. But I'm busy. However, now when someone asks me to come teach, I feel that it is a part of my job-as-Peer. So, having this title makes me do more of something that I love.
4. It influences people's assumptions of my research. They are more likely to read my arguments carefully, and look at my sources, because I have a title to back me up. I'm not just someone-who-might-know-something, I'm a Laurel, and that comes with a base assumption about the validity of my research and hypotheses.
5. Though I am not exactly shy, I don't usually go up and bother everyone, all the time (well, sort of). Being a Peer means that several times a year I get to go to a meeting where the coolest people in my field also go. I get to discuss things with them, on an equal status. I get to discuss research with them. It is awesome. TOTALLY AWESOME!
6. I get to help make people's dreams come true. The moment of offering a Laurel is GLORIOUS, and I get to witness it all the time :)
I get to hug them, and speak about how awesome they are, and make them things to wear on their day, that they will never forget, and always cherish.
7.I get to wear pretty laurel leaves on my stuff. Not a huge perk, but I really like organic designs, so I enjoy my leaves on everything I own.
8. It is really awesome to know that you are valued. I get invited to be a judge, or attend an event because someone thinks that the information in my head with help others, and that's a huge honor. (also, very occasionally, it gets me invitations to cool parties.)
So, in short, I REALLY enjoy the "job" part of being a Peer. Going to meetings is actually pretty interesting for me. I like the requirements because they provide a good external motivation to finish things, and teach new classes.
Could/would I do a lot of this stuff anyway? Yes. But for ME, being a Peer actually helps me to do the things that I like, so it's a win-win :)
Things I hate about being a Laurel/Peer
1. There are no days off. You can't go to an event and be not-a-Peer. The expectations are always the same.
2. I have to be very careful about what I say. Misheard, casual, or not-well-thought-through comments from a public figure can destroy the fragile self-worth of really cool people. People are putting out the work of their hand and the work of their heart. My title means that anything I say carries a huge amount of weight, and I have to be conscious of that all the time.
3. Everything I do reflects on all Laurels, forever. Conversely, any interaction anyone has every had with any other Laurel is also assumed to apply with me. This part is really unpleasant, as it means that my personal reputation is now tangled up with the entire council's reputation. I find myself trying to make up for their ills, and not give any tiny impression of something that could tarnish all the others.
4. I have to keep secrets from the people that I love the most. This can be horrible, and makes me feel awful.
5. If I experiment, I expect a hailstorm of criticism, much of it infinitely more harsh than if I were not a Peer. If I try a new craft, I am expected to do so at the same level as things I have done for a decade. All research must be Laurel level. All items produced must be Laurel level. This can make exploration and experimentation a very painful process. Since those two are some of my favorite things, this part is terrible for me.
6. My responsibilities take a lot of time (and sometimes money). Oh, no one else to present a worthy candidate at Crown five hours away? Oh, you need someone to teach at the only event I get to go to this year? I haven't had a chance to relax in six months, and I'm going to drive to the event so I can spend my entire time teaching, or judging, or demo-ing? Teaching is exhausting. It takes me days to make up the handouts and get the supplies together. Of course I am happy to do it, first, I love it, and second, it is my job. But part of me would really like to sit down and rest, and hang out with my friends, and not do Laurel-things at every event.
7. There is paperwork. A million email lists to keep track of. Notes to transcribe. Forms to fill out. Forms to collate, organize, and keep track of. I am abysmal at paperwork.
8. Though I am very emphatic that to be happy in the SCA you must do what makes you happy, being a Peer means that sometimes that has to take a backseat. Sometimes you have to do stuff that isn't your hobby. That isn't what brings you joy. That is boring, and annoying. You have to work with people you find insufferable, and work with them well.
However, for me all this is generally worth it, and I don't regret a moment of my time as a Peer.