My mom reminded me tonight that at this time in exactly two weeks, I’ll no longer be in Vancouver. The time sure has gone quickly. I actually get the keys to my new apartment on the 15th, so I might head out on the night of the 14th and grab them in person.
I’ve been slowly organizing things in my current apartment, and strangely enough, I really don’t have that much stuff here. I’ll probably load up my car on the 14th with all my valuables and drive those out to Chilliwack myself. I also need to find my Shaw cable modem, which apparently I’m to bring back to Chilliwack for them to reactivate. On the 18th I’ll grab the truck and do the final deed.
The only thing I still haven’t quite figured out is what to do about a phone. I’m going to keep my current Vancouver number since I still plan to do a lot of work in the Vancouver area. Unfortunately though, the intercom system in my new apartment requires a phone number so that it can call your phone. I doubt it’ll work with a Vancouver number, which basically means that I’ll have to get a Chilliwack number. Vonage is still around $20/month, with around a $70 hit just to sign up. I don’t know what Telus is, but I suspect it’s similar. Roger’s will be at least $20/month to add another number onto my account, so basically I’m looking at at least $240/year, simply for the privilege of letting people into my apartment. Maybe I should just install a gong outside or something that people can whack to get me to let them in.
A friend asked me last night if I was nervous at all about this. Truthfully, not really. I’m more nervous about WordCamp Whistler than I am about starting a new career. I think if anything I’m comforted by the fact that whatever happens over the next year, I’ll be essentially 100% in charge of my own destiny.
I have ten more days of work left, and then I’ll be done. I’ll spend most of that time transitioning myself out of my current role, and helping bring others up to speed. My final day will undoubtedly be pretty weird. I have a lot of friends at work, and I watched the company grow from around 8 people all the way up to 150 or so. That being said, I’ll be happy when I’m on the other side of January, sitting on the couch in my new place in front of my gas fireplace.
What about Shaw phone? $20, free installation and free first month!
Actually, I didn’t know they had that.. That’s an option. Not really much cheaper than the others, but I probably won’t be hit with an installation charge.
We are all counting the days here too.
I heard Rogers phone is getting popular…I can’t get my monthly phone under 34 a month so 20 sounds much better.
See you soon buddy!
Shaw is not cheaper than Vonage when you do the math. I don’t recall the setup fee being that high … if you do go that route, I can recommend a friend and save you some money. Ross’s friends run Fuguphone, which is about the same price as Vonage but now that I know they’re for real, I would definitely consider them.
Is Chilliwack long distance? I think the apartment systems all take 10 digit dialing, so it should basically work anywhere.
Will you be taking any time off before starting your new venture once you’re out of Vancouver? You know some ‘me’ time? Or do you have to get into the swing of things right away with BNC?
Hopefully. I definitely planning on taking that week between the move and WordCamp Whistler pretty easy. Dale and I are also trying to schedule some down time to bounce some ideas around and get a few smaller things off of our plates.
@Boris – Chilliwack is weird. A landline call from Chilliwack to Vancouver and from Vancouver to Chilliwack is long distance. A cell phone call from Vancouver to Chilliwack is also long distance. However, a cell phone call from Chilliwack to Vancouver is free, which is really strange, and a well known fact that most people back home exploit. That’s why me keeping a Vancouver number makes a bit more sense, since I can call everyone normally and it’s basically a local call for me.
I’m pretty sure the intercom does 10 digit dialing, but I don’t think they’ll let me set it up so it’s a long distance call for them. I thought about using a 1-800 #, but I think you need the “1” in that case to make it work, which their system may or may not like. Unfortunately, the only person helping with this is a secretary, and she doesn’t really know much about it.
Regarding the phone/intercomm dilema:
I had the same deal at my current apt. Our front gate required a local area code/landline to buzz people through. I ended up signing up for a Skype Out acct and chose a local area code. Total cost is about $3USD and I setup the Skype Out number to forward to my mobile number.
Now when visitors ring the front gate, the call gets directed to Skype which then forwards the call to my cell and I buzz them in w/ my iPhone. It’s a long trip for such a simple process but it works…cheap too.
good luck!
Great idea. I assume you’re talking about Skype in though, no? I wonder if I can get a number in my little hick town I’m moving to.
Hmm, apparently Skype-In doesn’t work in Canada 🙁
damn…no Skype-In.
ok, so have you thought about buying a pair of walkie-talkies and taping one of them by the buzzer w/ a label that says “DUANE”?
Just wondering if you absolutely need a phone for your building…Unless you’re expecting a flood of walkin traffic for BNC, why not skip the expense and get people to call your cell if you need to let them in?
I’m sure the pizza guy will be on a first name basis soon enough anyways 😉
Yah, that’s what I’m debating. I’ve done it before though, and it’s a PITA. But probably what I’ll do at first.