Thanks for the welcome back. I've actually been back to playing for a couple years now. No pain in my hand,just a frozen joint on my index finger but as I said I've been able to work around it. The pain involved was getting calluses to build on top of the scar tissue and since then it's been fine. I've also semi-retired so I've been playing more in the last couple years than I had for quite awhile. Purchased a small PA and have hooked up with a good friend who is an amazing guitarist. We've played a couple small parties and it seems like we may try to get some actual paying gigs. Neither of us have a great voice but with some electronic help (love that vocal harmonizer) we don't sound too bad. I'm looking forward to the Pa. gathering as it's only a couple hours from me and New York and Va aren't that far either. I've had a small gathering here the last couple years with people I'd been in bands with and people I just jam with. Nothing big, only goes for a day( or less,depending how many adult beverages are consumed) but it's a lot of fun. We'll have to see how things play out but I would love to set up a Clarion River jam. There's a small town right on the river where a building with a full kitchen can be rented for a small fee and is only 20-30 minutes from I-80. The river is fairly shallow there which keeps powered boats away allowing swimming,tubing, fishing and canoes. Lots of camping available (Cooks Forest State Park ) and hotels are close also. So if there would be any interest let me know and maybe set up for sometime in June. It could be a lot of fun and with everything there is too do there even the kids should be happy. keep on pickin
You need to talk with Amy as she had her gathering up in NY. The BYG (Back Yard Gathering), Dont forget, there is also Chordiestock around the March time Frame down in Tampa if you need to get out of the cold 
( He actually found FL with a buddy in TX and they played around with it.)