Well, it's finally happening. I have to be in NC for a appointment on April 19th, but after that I'm heading for NH.
Several people recommended Manchester, and I note many job offers in that area, so I guess that's it.
I need three things,
- A storage unit. I'd like to do better than throwing darts at the phone book, does someone know a decent place? I'll need 10x15 when I get there, to fit household until things get better. It doesn't need to be in Manchester, since nothing in the entire state is all that far away. Maybe a small town will cost less. Suggestions more than welcome.
- It's still too early to put in a bid on a room at a Porc Manor, so a weekly-rate motel would be fine. Those are also the kinds of places that don't advertise much, so it's hard to find them without already being there. I'd rather not sleep in the car. :)
- Contacts. I will try to track the regional gatherings, so I know where people are getting together. I know lots of you by name, many by face from watching Ridley Reports, I was at PorcFest last year.
Any suggestions welcome, I look forward to shaking hands and swapping stories.
Curt-
is it just you?
Yes, unfortunately. I had hopes of moving with wife and kids, but as it's now ex-wife, that isn't going to happen.
That I'm leaving the children I sacreficed anything like a career for, to stay home to raise and homeschool for 7 years, is a tale of woe worthy of a Greek tragedy which I will relate if someone is actually interested, but which is not something I would be happy to do here and now. :(
Oh, and in addition, I would like to make a run up with a loaded trailer, but so far no one has suggested a storage unit place. Oh well.
I don't know of any especially good ones. We have helped many people fill and empty them.
Quote from: Russell Kanning on March 18, 2011, 08:27 AM NHFT
I don't know of any especially good ones. We have helped many people fill and empty them.
I guess that's as good as "there's none especially bad, either". :)
I'll see if my friend in Londonderry has any suggestions. I guess I'll see what the weather is like next weekend!
Nothing big enough to need help loading/unloading, just boxes. Having moved out of the house recently, I'm not surprised how packed I already am.
have you hooked up with the manchester gang much yet?
I bumped into Ridley at PorcFest last year, but other than that, no.
I rather expect things to pick up once I'm in town and can meet people in person.
The difference is that I know many of you due to Ridley Reports, but no one knows me. Except maybe Mandrake, of whose Gyros I ate entirely too many. :)
the manch crew seems to be mostly silent online, but there are a lot of them
it is funny how many people show up in the Shire and know half of us by sight already
Quote from: Russell Kanning on March 19, 2011, 08:23 AM NHFTit is funny how many people show up in the Shire and know half of us by sight already
Well, I heard Dale talking behind a tent wall at PF last year, and knew who it was because of his time on FTL.
Ok.
I've reserved a storage unit in Manchester, and am taking a load up tomorrow, March 26th. I figure if I leave not too long after midnight, I should be able to get there while it's still business hours. I hope.
...because I really don't want to sleep in a truck stop with a loaded "open" trailer of stuff.
I don't need any help unpacking, thank you, but if anyone is doing anything tomorrow night it would be nice to meet folks.
Quote from: CurtHowland on March 20, 2011, 02:06 PM NHFT
Quote from: Russell Kanning on March 19, 2011, 08:23 AM NHFTit is funny how many people show up in the Shire and know half of us by sight already
Well, I heard Dale talking behind a tent wall at PF last year, and knew who it was because of his time on FTL.
I used to be a regular caller and folks would say, "I know you: you're John from Free Talk Live, right?"
Well, that's that. 31.5 hours, 1815 miles, and I haven't added up the gas yet, for one run of stuff into a storage unit in Manchester.
The snow in Virginia on the way back this morning slowed me down quite a bit.
Quote from: CurtHowland on March 14, 2011, 01:16 PM NHFT
Any suggestions welcome....
Curt-
Make sure you're in the Shire by 4:20 the afternoon of 4-20 at the State House.
snow is just an added bonus care of patk
A lot of things can be blamed on me, but snow ain't
one of them.
April 20 gets closer.
PorcManor.com is woefully out of date.
Still collecting suggestions, and no one has yet to mention a $35/night down-and-out motel anywhere at all. Lots of them around here in NC, maybe just a symptom of the economic problems.
The storage unit place I found in Manch does not allow me to sleep in the unit, so I'll have to find something. :^)
Holy Hole In The Wallet Batman!
My car insurance DOUBLED moving to NH, because uninsured motorist and medical payments are REQUIRED BY LAW!
Ok, there's my legislative agenda, that's insane!
Quote from: CurtHowland on April 18, 2011, 11:49 AM NHFT
My car insurance DOUBLED moving to NH, because uninsured motorist and medical payments are REQUIRED BY LAW!
I don't understand. You aren't required to insure your car
at all in NH. Most people get cheaper payments when they move due to that. Are you saying that
if you choose to insure (and most do),
then certain requirements apply?
Quote from: dalebert on April 18, 2011, 01:04 PM NHFT
Quote from: CurtHowland on April 18, 2011, 11:49 AM NHFT
My car insurance DOUBLED moving to NH, because uninsured motorist and medical payments are REQUIRED BY LAW!
I don't understand. You aren't required to insure your car at all in NH.
Now THAT is interesting! I haven't lived where insurance wasn't mandatory, so this is a surprise.
QuoteMost people get cheaper payments when they move due to that. Are you saying that if you choose to insure (and most do), then certain requirements apply?
Having insurance is a good idea, I agree. And yes, the GEICO (I'm going to shop around when I get settled in, count on that!) rep said that in order to ensure in NH, Uninsured Motorist and Medical Payments were required.
They're not required in NC, which is why I was paying "only" $230/6mo.
If GEICO is pulling a fast one, I'm going to be impolite when I cancel my service with them in favor of someone else.
When I lived in Colorado, I got insurance through the local Farm Bureau. It was something like $200/year. Much more rational for someone who's never had an accident.
GEICO is horrible.
I use Peerless, out of Keene. They covered something that they were not even, technically, required to cover. I didn't even ask them to cover it. I just informed them, on general principles (and was explicit in stating that I didn't expect them to cover it), and they took it upon themselves to offer to cover it. And, it was just under the cut-off, so it didn't even impact my rate.
[edit: Had some billing issues with Peerless - I've no complaints against their claims service, but too many problems with bills not showing up, or them losing my payments; others have had the same problems so it was not an isolated issue - I still recommend Eames as an agency, and they were able to set me up with comparable coverage for my vehicle and my liability insurance, for less money]
Eames (http://www.eamesinsurance.net/) has been a good agent, but you may want to find a local agent in Manch, if that's where you will be. Or maybe not.
Additionally, despite having massive commercial-grade coverage, including uninsured motorist, medical, coverage for towing trailers with thousands of dollars in equipment on them, etc. etc. etc... even with all that, I'm not paying twice what you were paying.
Joe
Switching from Geico to USAA cut my rates to less than half.
Thanks everyone, I'll take care of that right away then.
Well, right after I get someplace to sleep. ;D
Speaking of which, I will be in Manch on Wednesday morning, after driving through the night. It's time to leave North Carolina.
Safe traveling.
Quote from: CurtHowland on April 18, 2011, 05:13 PM NHFT
It's time to leave North Carolina.
It's way past time to leave Texas. You suck, and congratulations; save me a spot!
Quote from: John on April 18, 2011, 11:39 PM NHFT
Safe traveling.
Thank you.
Bilbo used to say there is only one road, it's tributaries are at every doorstep. It's a dangerous thing, stepping into a road. If you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off to.
Sage words, indeed. Thank you, Professor.
seems like there are reasonable motel prices in concord and nashua
Just to keep this thread up to date...
I hit a deer at 6:15 in Brattleboro, punctured the radiator and left the plastic bumper shattered.
Anyway, a quick call to Porc411 led to Stan's Auto Body in Keene, who had two trucks there (pulling a trailer, ya see) in 45 minutes.
So I made it to NH, I just haven't quite made it all the way, yet. My chase car will be here in a few hours, and at least we can get the stuff put away. Then I'll come back to Keene and hang out until the car is ready, hopefully tomorrow.
April 20th, just not quite the way I envisioned. :-\
Quote from: CurtHowland on April 20, 2011, 08:20 AM NHFTSo I made it to NH, I just haven't quite made it all the way, yet...
April 20th, just not quite the way I envisioned. :-\
Well. Welcome Home just the same!
Glad that you made it.
And, Thank You for coming home.
wow
lucky it was not time for the strolling of the heifers
(http://priss.com/IMG_2046.JPG) :-[
I guess we forgot to tell you that you would need a minimum 8feet of clearance for your vehicle to avoid these little incidents
it was a kamakazi attack, trying to keep me out of NH, I'm convinced.
It's only my credit card that has allowed me to get this far....
Well, I found a room through Craig's List, at a place where the principle (renting out two of his three bedroom apartment) has already hosted at least one Free Stater already. But he's an old mainframe programmer, so we have stuff to talk about.
Ok, I've got Social Sunday in Keene, and the move-in on Monday (he offered pizza, so I'm there with the heels of Hermes!
But seriously, that leaves tonight and Saturday. Anything happening in/around Manchester, or further out tomorrow? I hate sitting around someone else's apartment.
Ah that just gives the vehicle character.
Getting the bike up ON the trailer wasn't difficult, but I don't have a ramp here to get it off.
Would someone in/around Manchester either with a ramp or an idea send me a note, or reply here?
The last time I took the bike off the trailer, a strong friend simply held the other end of the utility trailer up while I rolled the bike backwards to the ground. If there were two of me, that's what I would do, but there aren't.
Suggestions welcome, I'll buy lunch at the Wendy's across the street from where the bike is when we're done.
very interesting first week
Yeah, well the last 8 months have been no picnic either.
I did go to Social Sunday in Keene, so I'm trying to meet everybody.
Edited my earlier post (http://nhunderground.com/forum/index.php?topic=22394.msg334986#msg334986) with some updated insurance information.
Joe