Planning to grow, a slow process

Hello, I'm just new here so bear with me. I plan on growing sometime in the new future, but I'm looking at sometime around the new year. It would be an indoor grow with a grow tent and LED's (I'm not starting this thread to start a discussion on this until I'm ready). What I am asking is if I wanted to start collecting seeds, would it be better for me to order from the various sites that deliver seeds to the US (I've done my HW so I'm aware of what sites to use) or would it be better for me to attend some of the Cannabis conventions (I live in CA) for seeds?

Personally, I am very envious that you have this option. If I had a chance to forgo shipping, possible confiscation, waiting for weeks sometimes etc etc...I would jump at the chance.

tha convention