Quote Originally Posted by ShakeyX View Post
And the definition of sobirayus' just never seemed to fit what I had in mind for the sentence.

собирать (sobirát’) impf. — собрать (sobrát’) pf.
to gather, collect
to assemble
to convoke
(for a journey) to equip, prepare

В следующем месяце мы собираемся навестить своих друзей!
It is better to look up reflective verbs in a dictionary without reducing them to simpler forms.

собираться
1) (сосредоточиваться в одном месте) gather (together), assemble
2) (готовиться) prepare (for); (собирать вещи) pack up one's things
3) (+ ; намереваться) intend (+ to ) , be going (+ to ) , plan (+ to )

As you can see, the meaning 3) is completely missing in the non-reflective verb собирать.