Less than 1 Week to FinCon12!!

by mzumtaylor on August 31, 2012

At the beginning of the year, I posted as one of my goals “Attend the 2012 Financial Blogger Conference (FinCon12) as part of my job.”

Well, it’s (almost) September, and that means that FinCon12 is just a few days away. My ticket is purchased, I’ve got my (very nice) FinCon Connection Issue 1 with the FinCon12 schedule… I’m ready. image

The Logistics of Fin Con

Since I live in Denver, you wouldn’t think there’d be much in the way of logistics that I’d have to figure out. I mean, the above list doesn’t include things like, “booked my flight/hotel room,” “packed my bags,” or “figured out how to get to the hotel from the airport.” Having the so-called “home court advantage” does have some perks.

But, there are still some logistical things to figure out, because I actually live in the Northeast corner of Westminster, which is North of Denver proper (about 25 minutes North, if there’s no traffic, which never happens).

The biggest logistical issue: Clothes

I work downtown, and take the bus to work, because

    a) I have a free bus pass through my work,
    b) paying for parking downtown is expensive,
    c) gas is expensive (especially for my 25 mpg Subaru), and
    d) Denver traffic is a bear.

That’s all well and good for the regular work week, since I can usually carry most of what I need with me on the bus.

Where’s the logistical issue? Well, for at least one day of the FinCon schedule there will be volunteering in the middle of the day, for which they suggest we wear “clothes that we don’t mind getting dirty.” So… not work attire then. image (And while I was planning to wear the same outfit during the day and into the evening, being able to change into nicer clothes for the evening get-togethers could be… nice.)

I’m all for volunteering, and think it’s really cool that that’s part of the schedule. But if I’m coming downtown in the clothes on my back and the equipment, etc. that I can fit in my backpack, having to change clothes mid-day might be problematic. Without a room in the hotel, I will have neither an easy place to store any necessary changes of clothes, nor anywhere convenient to change into them.

The issue isn’t even really changing into the clothes. I’ve had enough situations in my life where a “superman” change is necessary to go from one part of the day to the next. I’m just not sure where I’m going to put said changes of clothes until I need them, and how I’m going to get them downtown with me.

Option 1: I could pack them in a small rolling suitcase and bring them with me on the bus in the morning. I’d have to find somewhere to put them in the meantime, but I do have a locker in my cube at work (not ideal, since the office closes at 6 pm), and I might be able to leave them at the hotel. (This could be tricky, because people are always a little iffy about things like boxes and luggage being left in places like hotels.)

Option 2: I could drive downtown each day and leave my change(s) of clothes in my car.
For the reasons mentioned above, this is not the most appealing option (traffic, parking, gas. But, now that I’m a student I have access to a parking lot that’s only $5.50 for the day (that’s about 1/2 of what most lots cost, if not a 1/3), so that makes it a little easier, although that lot’s not as centrally located as I could hope…

Other logistical issues

They’re small, but they’re things like:

  • Where do I put any stuff I might get during the conference that I don’t want to lug around with me?
  • Do I really want to rely on public transportation to get me home at night? (It’s perfectly safe, it just takes longer than driving.)
  • Do I want to bring food with me for meals that aren’t covered or splurge on going out with folks?

I’ve got some time to figure these things out.

In other news…

My sister helped me put together business cards for the conference, and they are completely awesome.

Front:
image

Back:
image

My sister’s kind of amazing. image

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

image Lisa Standring September 5, 2012 at 7:13 am

Megan,

I will be a first-timer at the conference and plan to attend the community service event. I am happy to let you store your bag in my room for the day or ask the hotel to hold it in storage for me.

Just let me know if that is what you decide.

Lisa

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image mzumtaylor September 5, 2012 at 8:47 am

Thanks, Lisa! What a generous offer. I sent you an email in reply, since I figured that would be easier. image

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