I know the feeling well!
The first store I tried here in the Houston area, I had a simliar experience. When I went to crops in San Antonio, the store provided an 8 foot table, and as long as you stayed on your table, you could bring as much stuff as you wanted. When I would go for an all day crop, I took everything - my computer, my printer, my cricut, and all my stuff! When I showed up at the store in Houston, you would have thought I was coming from Mars! Most of the ladies were teachers, (sorry Art_Teacher) and they acted just like high schoolers and basically ignored me. They talked all day/night about stuff and activities they were involved in, and no one even tried to get to know me.
Oh, and they only had these little 4 x 2.5 foot tables, so in order to use my electronics, they did put me against the wall/counter where I could get an electrical outlet.
I went back again a second time, thinking that maybe it was a fluke. Nope, same thing all over again. Only this time, I didn't take everything, only worked on stuff where I had preprinted my pics, and wasn't going to use my cricut (I used their die cuts instead). But as far as the socializing goes, it was a repeat. They talked among themselves, and didn't try to include me at all.
There is an Archiver's here in Houston, but they also looked at me strange when I asked about 'buying' two tables for the crop. This location uses the 4 x 2.5 foot size, and that just isn't enough room for me! LOL!
I gave up, and decided to find something on line. In December, I stumbled upon a site that ended up closing at the end of year, but two of the ladies invited me to another site, and Megamy is on the DT there. It was her invitation that got me here. Except for going back to SA occassionally, and the October Cherry get-together here in Houston, or another scrapbooking cruise, I probably won't go to live crops again. Give me cyber-crops anyday!
Laurie