We lived in Arlington during the first Bush Inaugural in 1993, so we went. We spent $150 each on tickets to the Ball at the Kennedy Center, then I rented a tux (another $100), and my wife, who was five months pregnant at the time rented a $3,000 designer dress for $300.
We figured it was a once in a lifetime thing, and at that point our lives, we had the money.
We went to the swearing in that morning. Watched the parade at a favorite bar. Then we went home to get ready for the evening. We got there and it was wall to wall people. There was a cash bar and absolutely no food to be found - even for purchase. We left and went across the street in our finery to eat at Shoney's (we were not alone). We could never get to the dance floor and never got close enough to see the dignitaries (we were basically in the long lobby corridor with thousands of people).
We did actually get to see the Quayle's at the end of the evening (it was one of their last stops).
We can now say we did it...once. But we'll never do it again (unless a certain favorite of ours makes it there...).