Survival of the Fittest?

Las Vegas is more than just the perfect setting to indulge in bad behavior -- it's also the ideal location to make business contacts.
From now until August 12, I'm networking with my peers at our annual convention, which is taking place this year in Sin City. Between attending workshops all day and going to parties every night, I don't know how I'll find time to sleep ... but I do know that my agenda is about business, not pleasure.
Over the years, I've traveled thousands of miles and spent thousands of dollars on seminars to enhance my skills and advance my career. The profession I work in is undergoing a transition that's left me with the choice of adaptation or extinction. I have unwavering faith in my abilities, even when I question my sanity for pursuing my passion. More important, though, I can't see myself doing anything else: I've never worked in retail, and I'm not interested in joining the corporate world.
Change is a part of life, and I have no problem adjusting to new (or different) ways of doing my job. However, I can't help but worry that having such an outlook isn't enough to survive in today's workplace.