You may be wondering what shore leave is.
From a nautical perspective, it is the time during which a ship is anchored out in a safe harbor or moored up to a pier, and the sailors are allowed time off the ship to see the local sights, enjoy the local food and drink, and generally stretch their legs on a surface that isn’t constantly rocking and pitching. It’s good for moral, and an excellent opportunity to take part in a new, or not commonly visited culture.
From a geeky perspective, the crew of the USS Enterprise arrived on a planet in the Omicron Delta region on stardate 3025. After a landing party was sent down to briefly explore the surface, it was determined that this planet would be an excellent opportunity for the crew to experience some time off of the ship.
In honor of this event in the original series, the Star Trek Association of Towson hosts an annual fan run science fiction convention. It is the weekend of 7-9 August, and is a scant 75 miles from me. Also, John Barrowman is one of the special guests this year. (squee!) Who just preregistered today? This girl!
For more information, please visit their website! http://www.shore-leave.com/