I know it sucks changing the dates like that. But because of my low seniority and absurd demand for August dates, I can't do RoseCon by being given vacation, I have to worm it into my actual schedule. We just picked new schedules, and I seriously picked my schedule on the sole fact that it has a six day off over a weekend. I was hoping it'd land on the dates of RC, but it lands on the 1-3rd. I feel like it's kind of snobby to say, but...is it RoseCon without Yasha and I? Not exactly, BUT don't be afraid of getting little get togethers of your own! I know a lot of us have met and hung out, and traveled to do so, without waiting for RC. RC isn't the be all end all of forum meets. It's just the beginning.

As for hotel, I'm gonna snoop around, I'm still inclined to the one we picked but I want to make sure the transit and such is good.

Actually, this trip is serving two purposes for us. We are seriously, seriously, considering moving to Montreal. My rent is like 1,450 a month now, and while the location is hard to beat, it's just a plain old building, when most of the apartment complexes in the city have gyms, pools, etc. Cost of living in Alberta is ridiculous, and nurses are starting to get screwed by the system. (It's cyclical.) I get paid 36.80 an hour--that sounds like a lot. It's not up here. If I'm going to pay out the rear to live somewhere, I'd rather live somewhere more engaging. People move to Edmonton because it's a pretty cool city, but mostly for employment, low taxes (for Canada), free health care, and high earning potential. I'm a city girl, though, and Edmonton doesn't scratch that itch the way I suspect Montreal will. Also, Montreal is like 6 hours from every major city in the region. Right now I drive 16 hours for a weekend in Vancouver. Six to eight hours to get to Toronto, Boston, Philly, and NYC? UNF.

There are downsides of course. First, I need to get my citizenship. Quebec is basically another country, my license and permanent residency will be treated differently there. This isn't a problem, I actually probably qualify now. Second, while Montreal is actually pretty broadly bilingual, I will need to learn French if I mean to work there. This is...problematic, since I suck at languages and am terrified of French because I can't pronounce it. I'm not sure a massive embarrassment phobia is enough to stop me from living somewhere awesome though. Anyone have suggestions for this? I don't seem to learn languages easily, and I never learned English in the scholastic manner. I learned it reading closed captioning--so I'm considering just downloading shitloads of French movies and diving in.

For a long time we were thinking Vancouver, but honestly, everyone thinks of Vancouver, so it's hard to get there, no employment, and Vancouver isn't actually close to anything aside from Seattle. It's surrounded by some of the most gorgeous land in the world, but Quebec isn't suffering on that front either. I'm not afraid to plunk down hard cash to live somewhere, but if I'm gonna do it, Edmonton's not where it's going to be. I love the city, but it's just too expensive for what it is anymore.

ANYWAY yeah. August 1-3rd, we will be in Montreal. I'm going to _ask_ for dates off around it, but I probably won't get them.

Giovanna wrote:

am terrified of French because I can't pronounce it.

Don't worry, neither can they.

purplepolecat wrote:

Giovanna wrote:

am terrified of French because I can't pronounce it.

Don't worry, neither can they.

Hey! I can pronounce both French and Canadian French!

Gaston wrote:

Hey! I can pronounce both French and Canadian French!

But what can't you do, Gaston?    (My apologies for the Disney moment.) 

Sorry to hear RoseCon is off this year, but damn did everyone give it a go.

Last edited by jmie5 (04-09-2014 09:04:48 PM)

Aww man, I wanted to at least see the cool pictures you guys would have taken. Oh well, there is always next year.