@Thanks for the Crepes - tell us how you really feel 
Basically, my only interest is the food, not really the rides. I hear too much about them collapsing. I miss funnel cakes and corn dogs. I wouldn't mind something fun, too, like a fried something. My anxiety can't handle parking like that which has been a huge deterrent in going by myself. I would definitely take a bus without hesitation. I've actually never been to a state fair, period. We used to go to a rib fest near where I lived when I was growing up, so I am very familiar with expensive food and large crowds. They did include a lot in the tickets like live music and pig races and farm animals. It's more about just the experience. I am not working next week as I transition to a new job, so I was actually thinking of trying to get out there in the middle of the day, hoping the crowds wouldn't be as bad in the middle of the week.
Also, yep! I couldn't believe I'd been here that long, either! I'm just newer to egullet 
I remember when I was travelling to Raleigh from Key West last year, the counter/check in agent was from the same area. He asked how long I'd lived there and I said about 10 years. He looked at me and said that I wasn't new, but wasn't a local just yet. 
He was hilarious.