More wibbling about that possible UK trip

[textualdeviance]

So, as I've been babbling about on Twitter today, it turns out that we can probably manage at least two weeks, flying economy plus, thanks to M having a metric fuckton of air miles available.

"Probably" is the operative word, here.

Pros:
-UK (and possibly other Europe places)!
-Major lifetime travel goal!
-Meeting awesome fandom people!
-(Probably) meeting awesome actor people (whom I might not otherwise get the chance to see if they never show up to any U.S. events.)
-Last chance for a big, blowout trip before we succumb to parental zombiehood

Cons:
-We really ought to use that money for paying off bills/buying a kid
-Even with the econ + seats, I'm terrified of the flight, and of trying to find ways to get around while we're there. Driving isn't an option, so we'd have to make do with transit, and that means a shitton of walking. Which... Yeah. I don't want to spend the whole trip laid up in my hotel because I can't move.
-Also slightly terrified of the accomodations at the con itself, but I think I may have found a nearby alternative, so that may not be an issue.
-I'd have to make sure I only got a three-month contract in September, so I could take the two-three weeks in Feb. Or decide not to work until this was over. Which would be bad financially.

Truthfully, the cash is the biggest roadblock for me. We have it (or should) but the sane and responsible thing to do with it is to pay off things like the A/C we just had installed, and save up for the kid-buying thing. If I blow this much money on a trip like this, we're looking at at least another six months before we can start the adoption.

On the other hand, we're looking at quite a delay for that anyway. The cost of this trip is only about 1/3 of the cost of the adoption, so it's not like we're only choosing between those two things. Basically, in order to afford the adoption, I have to start working again. And if I do, I should make enough money to manage not just the adoption but also the bill-paying and other such stuff. So really, what we do with the money we have now is kind of irrelevant to that, aside from just improving our bottom line (and, well, we still have a positive net worth anyway, so...)

I'm truly in devil-and-angel territory here with this. The angel wants me to do the responsible thing and sock away that cash and get ready to be a parent instead of gallivanting off halfway around the world to meet some random Famous People. The devil is telling me that I'm only going to be less physically able to do a trip like this in 10 years (when the kid would be old enough), so it's pretty much now or never.

Bah.

In any case, we wouldn't be booking this right away. We'd be waiting until after we're back from Dragon*Con to make that decision. One, because my Primeval folks may well be there, thus lessening my need to cross the pond to see them, and two because that's when we'll know more about M's annual review/bonus stuff, which is what would be funding this adventure. So I spose there's no point in agonizing about it now.

Comments

[pottsfanatic.livejournal.com]

I agree with the 'wait n see' bit to make sure for not only the reasons you named but also so that you can do a little more research on the area. The transit system is fantastic in and around London, however I'm not sure how great it is around Pontins. I've never been to that area in Sussex. The good thing is that if you fly into Gatwick you won't be far from where you'll be staying.

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

I was looking more closely at the rail lines yesterday, and it looks like there's a train that goes right into Rye, which is very close to Camber. A five-minute cab ride or a kind Denialist to pick us up, and we should be OK.

We talked about logistics quite a lot yesterday, and figured what we'd do is fly in a couple of days before the event, and spend a day in London winding down from the flight chaos, and then hopping the train down thataway. Then we'd head back north, and go do something else (although, since Camber is apparently very close to the Chunnel, we might go spend that Monday roaming around France.)

Getting around London shouldn't be too crazy. A combo of cabs and transit should do us, and we might just get one of those day tour thingies to see all the big sights.

The far more difficult part is all the other stuff we want to do outside of that (Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow... Maybe Dublin if we can swing it.) Trying to find a way to get around to all that with about 10 days' time and no driving sounds quite challenging. I know the train system is really good there, and we could easily get from city to city. It's just the rural places and getting around in-city that worries me.

[pottsfanatic.livejournal.com]

the tube lines in and surrounding London are brilliant and a multi-pass is not that expensive.(you can use for bus or train) If you spend any amount of time in the surrounding areas I would highly recommend getting one. You can also take the bullet train for longer distances. You can find the routes online and I think if you have an iphone there's even an ap for the tube routes so you won't get lost. Just remember to have your plan upgraded so you can use your phone over there. As for getting around the more rural areas...if you don't or can't rent a car you may have to rely on hiring a driver for the day. There are companies that do that(and some individuals too) I would check at the airport, they tend to hang out there same as cabs do. Or you may be able to get one of the peeps from LJ to do it for a fee....