Sadly, my company doesn't see the direct benefit to its operations for shelling out the dough to pay for a 3000 mile trip plus lodging and food for me to attend a conference that may improve my skills. I can do everything that is needed to be done as it is, why should they spend such a sum only to see no visible difference?

They would give me the time off and minimal per-diem if I could drive myself though. I suspect other Database experts out there are in a similar situation. For that reasons it would be nice if this could be held in a different place *every* year.