We’re the Jet Set, Not the Ol’ Chevrolet Set

I’m starting to lay down some concrete plans.  I’m going out to San Fran next week to find a place to live.  I’m currently setting up appoints with places I’ve found on Craigslist, and hopefully something will pan out.   

My JetBlue flight arrives at Oakland Airport in mid-morning on Wednesday, March 7^th, and I leave from the same place late Friday night.  I’m excited about JetBlue because a) it’s non-stop and b) they have satellite TV in every seat on the plane.  This beats the hell out of the a layover in Minneapolis.  I’ll be staying at the Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf, which was described to me as “touristy, yet classy.”  Seeing as how I will still be a tourist on this trip, and I am of course all class, this seems like an appropriate venue. 

By far the best part about this trip, other than arranging to live somewhere other than a cardboard box, is that it coincides exactly with two shows by my favorite band, The Mountain Goats.  After my three-day, whirlwind, apartment/house/fact finding mission, I will jet back to the East Coast for a quick weekend respite before heading back out to
Phoenix for some spring training.  Aren’t I cosmopolitan with all my jet setting across the country? 

The biggest problem I’ve had so far has been getting appoints to see places in SF.  I’ve found tons of great places on CL, but I just can’t seem to craft the right email message to impress the current occupants.  All I can hope for as that they’re suitably impressed enough to grant me an audience, where I can dazzle them with my in-person charm.  So if any of you out there are CLers who I’ve contacted about your empty room, give me a shot, and I promised you won’t be disappointed.

No News Is…

Frustrating as hell.  It’s been about a month now since I originally found out I was going to SF, and I’m still waiting on a formal letter and all the accoutrements.  So I finally did some asking and emailing around to find out what’s going on.  I also took some unilateral action in the face of inactivity from HR. 

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• There is a 7.5% cost of living adjustment.  If you know how much I make, then you know how much that is.  If not, trust me, it’s not that much.
• I get $5000 in relocation allowance.  I don’t know what specifically this means, but I assume it’s for things like boxes and tape and moving men and not for things like a new plasma TV for my new apartment.
• I will absolutely be there by April 1^st.  Since that’s a Sunday, my first day in the new office will be Monday, April 2^nd. Call or write then to ask me how it is.
• The planned roll out from DC in March 29 or 30, the Thursday and Friday before I plan to start there.
• I’m going to scout apartments in SF from March 7-9.
• I’ll be on vacation in
  Phoenix from March 12-19.
• That leaves me only 44 real days until the move, and only 31 days in DC.

 

So needless to say, I am getting a little freaked out.  I’m going to start packing and disposing of stuff this weekend, so hopefully I can make it look like progress is being made.  I’ll let you guys know when I get the formal offer letter, and of course, updates will be more frequent as the date approaches. 

Lastly, if anyone knows any cool thingy I can put in the sidebar of the blog to count down, please let me know.