Origins

[unforth]

I forgot to post about this earlier, but in case anyone actually needs to know this, I will not be attending Origins this year after all. Why not, you might ask. Well, my Uncle Red holds a 4th of July party every year. I've never been. Red lives in California with the rest of my dad's family, and I just don't make it out there very often. However, this year is the last year that he is holding it. I really want to go, and I thought, well, 4th of July party, Origins starts the 5th, everything is hunky dory, and I can do both.

If only life were that simple. Turns out the 4th of July party is being held on the 7th of July. Bastards. This puts it right smack dab in the middle of the convention. But I do really want to go. Toss in that my brother, at whose house I stay during Origins generally, is also going to be at the party in California, and, well, I can go to Origins any year; I can go to Uncle Red's last 4th of July party only once, and so the party wins, and I'm skipping the convention. Ah well, life goes on.

In happier news, it means I can probably find the time to do my drive across the country after all, timing it to coincide with the party. This pleases me cause I'm really not sure when else I'm gonna get to do such a drive in my life.

Comments

[unforth.livejournal.com]

...

But I like driving!

...

I may have no choice but to stop; I started doing preliminary research on insurance in Boston; Liberty Mutual quoted me a yearly rate over $4,000. I'm mildly in shock. I'm hoping it's all in my head. Ah well.

...

Anyway, driving across the country sounds, I dunno, cool. Or something. :)

[kniedzw.livejournal.com]

Oof. That is harsh.

I want to say that is in line with what I was paying, but it's been long enough ago now that I couldn't say for certain.

[unforth.livejournal.com]

That's what I was afraid of. That's to insure the car literally in Boston, to a Boston address, so I'll keep poking around and see if I can't do better. I'm seriously thinking about "selling" the car to my grandfather and then putting me on the insurance as a driver, that way I could insure it as if I lived in Lyme, New Hampshire. Of course, I couldn't park in Boston, but I never really wanted to park in the city proper anyway, I want to find parking on the outskirts, cause I know in NYC that's a way to save a lot of money (being willing to commute to one's own car and all. ;) )

[d-c-m.livejournal.com]

HI! I'm a firm believer in 4th of July parties as I hold a huge one every year so hey, I know it is a bummer to miss Origins but I think you'll have a blast with your family.

And hey, that insurance amount sounds about right. I used to live in Philly.

[unforth.livejournal.com]

Yay 4th of July parties! I love them too.

I've never tried to insure a car in a city before; it didn't occur to me that it would be 10 times more than what I pay now. I was expecting about half that amount (about $2000). Sigh.

[d-c-m.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, I so feel your pain on EC car insurance. YIKES!!!

[unforth.livejournal.com]

As it turns out, I'm feeling somewhat relieved on this score now - I'd requested some other quotes, and they are a fraction of the rate that Liberty Mutual quoted me - less than $1000 per year, much more achievable. I'm a bit puzzled by the discrepancy, but I don't need to worry about it right now, really, it's just so that I can get a sense of things for budgeting. ;)

[unforth.livejournal.com]

I also realized I overstated how cheap my current insurance is - I forgot that I pay in 6 month installments, so my current insurance is about $1000 per year but always seems like less cause it's less than $500 each time I pay it.

[d-c-m.livejournal.com]

Whoa!! That discrepancy is freaky - wonder why? And yes, I spent the first 6 months of living in Philly trying to figure out a budget.

[unforth.livejournal.com]

I think I may have found a piece of it, that quote expects that I've got no moving violations (I have one, from last November) and 6 years of experience (I have 3)...Liberty Mutual's stuff incorporated that. I've sent an e-mail to the fellow asking about the difference that all would make...here's hoping. ;)

I'm hoping to have the budget figured out before I ever move - in part, to figure out if I can afford to have a car. :)