Preliminary plans for after I finish...

[liv]

So I'm trying to convince myself that I really am going to finish this PhD, which means acting as if there is a future after 9^th May. Since I don't have a job or any prospect of a job lined up, my plan is to take a mini-gap year to tour round at least the UK, and possibly some other places too, and see as many cool people as possible. Hence this poll so I can start thinking about my itinerary.

Don't feel obliged to take this poll at all, and if you do take it, there's no problem with whichever options you want to select. My flist is a real mix of everyone from my best friends to people I barely know, so I'm not expecting that everyone will be mad keen to see me or want to put themselves out to see me. Obviously there's no guarantee I'll be able to see everyone who says they want to see me, but I'm going to do my best within reasonable practical limits.

If you can come to Dundee you can definitely stay over; I have lots of spare beds. If you can come to Cambridge and my parents know you you can probably stay over, but that'll take a bit more negotiation. And the questions about whether you can put me up assume that I'm quite happy sleeping on a couch or the floor or whatever.

The timing is fairly vague at the moment, since this is a very preliminary stage of planning. It also depends on kind of unknown factors like whether I pass my viva, how quickly I can sell my flat, coordinating things with my parents, etc. If you have anything at all to say that isn't covered by the poll, use comments; that seems more useful than a free text poll question for this purpose. (And if you're not an LJ user, comments are your only option to answer this survey.)

[Poll #425672]

Comments

[beckyzoole.livejournal.com]

For years, I have been planning to take a year off and tour the UK. I could stay with internet and Mensa friends, not to mention the immense family of second-cousins-twice-removed in Ireland. But it won't be this coming year.

On the other hand, if you ever come to St. Louis, we have plenty of room for guests!

[liv]

For years, I have been planning to take a year off and tour the UK. I could stay with internet and Mensa friends, not to mention the immense family of second-cousins-twice-removed in Ireland.
Hee, that's exactly how I plan trips. Have you been to the UK before, in fact?

On the other hand, if you ever come to St. Louis, we have plenty of room for guests!
Thanks, that's a kind offer. I think St Louis is not that likely a place for me to end up, at least not this summer. But I appreciate the thought.

[rho]

I'll comment even though I am an LJ user, because none of the poll options seemed quite right.

Should you ever happen to be around this part of the world, I'd be happy to see you, and could probably put you up for a night or possibly even two provided you don't object to sleeping on a floor or a couch, but couldn't otherwise. I also wouldn't particularly expect you to go out of your way to visit me or anything else.

There is also possibility of my being in either Cambridge or London some time over summer, since they're both places that I tend to visit from time to time. Whether or not I could reasonably get to either one of them would depend on whether the people who I typically go to visit there were available at the time. Not to mention what my plans for the summer end up being, which is very uncertain at the moment.

And while I may well be a psycho internet stalker, there are enough people out there who have met me and come out alive that it should be fairly clear that I'm not a mad axe murderer.

[liv]

none of the poll options seemed quite right
Oh, they never do. No matter how much effort one puts into a carefully crafted poll, there's always going to be someone who doesn't fit. I just find asking people to use comments if they have anything more to say is more effective than putting an 'Anything else?' free text question in the poll. Particularly because you can reply to comments!

Should you ever happen to be around this part of the world, I'd be happy to see you
Thank you. That's remarkably sociable for a self-declared misanthrope, and I'm suitably flattered. I think I need to sit down with a map at some point, but I have a feeling Lancaster's not unreasonably far from Liverpool where I have family, so I might well be able to find myself in that sort of area at some point.

There is also possibility of my being in either Cambridge or London some time over summer, since they're both places that I tend to visit from time to time.
Well, there's likely to be at least a chunk of time when I'm in Cambridge with nothing very much to do. So it should be possible to coordinate my vague plans with yours without too much advance planning. I'll bear that in mind, definitely.

[hatam-soferet.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely planning to spend a considerable whack of time back home (sans W) at some point over the summer. I don't know whether it'd be the whole summer and I'd get a job, or just a few weeks, but either way, something.

[liv]

I'm definitely planning to spend a considerable whack of time back home (sans W) at some point over the summer.
Ee! You're going to be in England! Yay! *happy dance*

I have to say this plan for a grand tour was originally centred around my intention of coming to New York to see you, and if you're going to be over here that might throw things a bit. Still, if we're lucky maybe both will happen.

[pthalo]

I would like to meet up with you sometime, but I'm not going to be at home this summer, have to visit the mother :/

[liv]

I would like to meet up with you sometime,
Aww! Yay, I know I said I wasn't putting any pressure on people but I have to admit I was hoping you'd say that.

I'm not going to be at home this summer, have to visit the mother :/
Bummer. That's what I get for taking six months longer to finish than I was planning to, isn't it? Well, it might be that some time can be found when I could come and visit that wouldn't classify as 'summer' in the sense of the time when you're with your mother. It's not totally out of the question that I could plan something like a long weekend between handing in and viva, or immediately after viva, which would mean April or early May, for example. Will ponder this more and write you some emails.

[redbird]

I have floor space, but I also have a mad tiger-pup of a cat (julian_tiger, as well as a live-in partner who is, reasonably, hesitant about stay-over company he doesn't already know, given that we have a one-bedroom flat.

[liv]

Thank you, that's really kind of you to even consider this as a possibility. I do appreciate that there are people who are genuinely not in a position to host me; after all, I'm young enough that a significant proportion of my friends are still living with their parents or in student digs, and really can't have guests.

I think if I do make it to New York, which is one of the more likely places on my agenda in some ways, I shall be pretty much ok. I have two close university friends there now, as well as some excellent cousins who talk as if the only thing missing from their happiness is for me to come and stay with them, plus BG from shul (whose place we were in when I met you last time I was in New York). So with luck I can probably manage a week in the city without imposing on anyone too much.

[karen2205]

Simply 'cos I've a distinct lack of space in my flat not 'cos I don't trust you or anything.

[liv]

Simply 'cos I've a distinct lack of space in my flat not 'cos I don't trust you or anything.
I completely understand that. I was deliberately trying to phrase the question neutrally. Preferring a public space could mean anything from 'I don't know you that well so I have to be cautious' to 'My home is a complete tip and I can't deal with tidying it for visitors'. And I'm not going to be offended by either, it was just to give me a framework for my plans.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I should probably mention that I'm possibly doing another internship this year, probably in Germany if it happens, so there is a bit of a proviso there about me actually being in the country. Mind you, I do have plans to come back here for a long weekend every so often during that time. doseybat will inevitably be wanting to meet up too, of course.

[liv]

I should probably mention that I'm possibly doing another internship this year, probably in Germany if it happens
That would be very cool and exciting! I think there's a reasonable chance that we will overlap in Cambridge at some point though. And Germany is fairly easy to get to, if I do decide to go wild with travelling. I have enough contacts there that it ranks as a relatively sensible destination.

[shreena.livejournal.com]

I was amused that you only ticked "I would like to see you". I mean, if you can't be in the vicinity of Cambridge and London this summer, what's the point in asking us? ;)

[liv]

I was amused that you only ticked "I would like to see you".
Well, I wasn't going to fill in the poll at all, since obviously that wouldn't tell me any new information. But then I realized that if you haven't filled in the poll, it's a bit of a faff to see the results. I was assuming that everyone who answered the poll at all would tick 'I want to see you', so I hoped that by checking that option alone, I would still be able to see everyone else's answers at a glance. However, this plan relied on people being more rational about polling than they actually turned out to be, as some people decided to tell me their plans for the summer even though they don't want to see me *rolls eyes*.

I mean, if you can't be in the vicinity of Cambridge and London this summer, what's the point in asking us? ;)
Hee, good pedantry!

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I would like to see you, but am a bit hesitant about going up to Dundee as a weekend with the two of us together might not be a good idea. You have lots of cool friends, though, and I'd enjoy meeting up with you and a bunch of them together like in Oxford last whenever-it-was.

[liv]

I would like to see you,
Oh good, cos I want to see you too. Email is all very well but I miss seeing you in person. (Though this is slightly irrational because I really doubt I practically could have seen you in person in the past six weeks in any case.)

a bit hesitant about going up to Dundee as a weekend with the two of us together might not be a good idea.
Much as it pains me to admit it, I think you are probably right. *sigh* At least we won't have the annoyance of planning a fun weekend and forgetting or not being able to arrange any time when we can have a bit of privacy, I suppose. I'm actually rather touched that you even considered shlepping up here again, but really, there's not a lot of fun stuff left to do in Dundee.

You have lots of cool friends, though,
Well, lots of them want to see you anyway independently of me. I might consider using my cool friends as bribes to get you to spend more time with me, but I'm rather hoping I don't have to resort to that!

I'd enjoy meeting up with you and a bunch of them together like in Oxford last whenever-it-was.
I don't think I can manage anything on quite that scale, especially as there's now no single place where I have as many friends as I used to have in Oxford. But I'm hoping for some kind of get-together in Cambridge. There's pseudomonas and compilerbitch actually based there, and blue_mai and doseybat have enough Cambridge connections that they're probably persuadable to visit. And there's a reasonable chance of bringing blackherring to Cambridge if you, pseudomonas and I all want to see her at the same time. So we'll see.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

You know you'd be welcome in Montreal, though if such were to be an option, the more advance notice the better; this summer's kind of filling up. I appreciate that it's a long way to come, though. *hug*

[liv]

You know you'd be welcome in Montreal
Thank you, I appreciate the offer.

though if such were to be an option, the more advance notice the better
Fair enough. I'm still in a bit of a 'can't make plans aargh' tizz at the moment, even with a definite viva date, but this post was partly an attempt to break out of that mindset. I think also I'm not the kind of person to undertake trans-Atlantic trips at the drop of a hat, so if I do decide to include North America in my plans I will probably take at least a couple of months to organize.

this summer's kind of filling up.
Well, it's very good that you have lots of people who want to come and visit. And I can see that summer's likely to be the busiest time for that sort of thing. If it doesn't happen it doesn't happen, but I am going to try to fix something.

I appreciate that it's a long way to come, though.
Mm. I guess my thinking has been that of all the far away places I might like to visit, New York is the most practically reasonable. And I if I do go to New York, I could consider making a two-hop trip in order to visit either San Francisco (which has darcydodo and lots of yummy bookshops) or Montreal (which has you and probably yummy bookshops too though I only know about them from hearsay). I do understand that neither city is actually near New York, but they're nearer to New York than to here.

It might turn out that visiting darcydodo would be more practical, just given that she has proper summer vacations and is more likely to be free, and she has more convenient living arrangements than you do. But then I've never been to Canada, and you have made a very good job of convincing me that Montreal is the most wonderful place ever and I really need to go there at some point!

[draconid.livejournal.com]

If by some miracle I happen to have a house by the time you're doing a UK tour I'd be perfectly happy to put you up. But with no spare bed and a mad little old lady, it's not the wisest of things right now!

London would most probably be doable, as I am going to drag Rat's arse there at some point this year if it kills me. Plus, if you happened to be around the Midlands at any point visiting others, then I could probably end up there too.

I have also pondered the idea that it would be nice to have a UK Support meet-up, so if others were in agreement that could be a way to kill two birds with one stone.

But yes, definitely would like to meet up again!

[liv]

If by some miracle I happen to have a house by the time you're doing a UK tour
Much sympathy on the unstable living situation. I hope you get your miracle, but mainly because it would be so much nicer for you if you did in fact have a house.

London would most probably be doable,
Oh, cool, well, if I'm in Cambridge around the time you plan to make your trip then we should definitely organize to meet up.

if you happened to be around the Midlands at any point visiting others, then I could probably end up there too.
Where exactly in the Midlands? I definitely plan to be in Nottingham at some point, and Birmingham and Oxford are also not out of the question. I think there's quite a lot of Midlands that I could reasonably do as a daytrip from Cambridge, actually.

I have also pondered the idea that it would be nice to have a UK Support meet-up
Ooh, that would be fun. Would definitely be up for that if I'm in England when it happens. Possibly even if I'm still in Scotland as long as I'm past the current insanely busy no life phase.

But yes, definitely would like to meet up again!
Excellent, I hope we can organize something then. Something that doesn't involve suffering for your poor feet, of preference. The other thought that occurs to me is that I do have a contact in Bristol; how accessible are you from there?

[pne.livejournal.com]

Partly what rho said: if you happen to be in the area (Hamburg, Germany), I wouldn't mind meeting you, but I don't know you well enough to be able to say I actively "would like to see you".

I was going to say I could put you up for a bit but Stella would prefer not having random strangers stay the night, though they're welcome to visit.

[liv]

if you happen to be in the area (Hamburg, Germany), I wouldn't mind meeting you,
Hmm. Germany is not out of the question. I know a few people there, and a couple of my friends have mentioned in this discussion that they're going to be there over the summer, and it's high on the list of countries I'd like to visit. (I have been to Germany once, but that was on a fairly disastrous exchange trip where my penpal didn't want to leave the house. So I didn't see anything except a few random suburban Munich streets and her school.)

I don't know you well enough to be able to say I actively "would like to see you".
Makes perfect sense. Like I said, there's a whole range of how well people know me here, and I couldn't be bothered to create a special default filter for people I thought were likely to want to see me.

Stella would prefer not having random strangers stay the night
This is very understandable. Is it the case that most major cities in Germany are within a reasonable day trip of other cities in Germany?

[doseybat.livejournal.com]

i am pretty certain i will be in Vienna 17 July - 5 August and in Leiden for two weeks following, and will need to find something to do with my evenings after all these thrilling herbarium days, not to mention weekends - fancy seeing a bit of Europe?

of course I will be in London/Cam at all other times and will be going up to work in Edinburgh for a couple of days at some point, so doing a Dundee stopover will work.

[liv]

fancy seeing a bit of Europe?
Mm. I like that plan. Vienna and Leiden are both places I'd like to go. What's likely to be your accommodation situation – will you have a floor I can crash on?

of course I will be in London/Cam at all other times
Cool, I should definitely try to see you then. I didn't really get to see you properly last month, even though your party was my main excuse for being in England. But it quite often happens that you don't get to talk to the host much.

will be going up to work in Edinburgh for a couple of days at some point, so doing a Dundee stopover will work.
Ee! You're getting to be quite the well-travelled botanist. But yay for coming to Dundee, that's really great news. Let me know just as soon as you have dates. I can't do it often, obviously, but since I'm not really showing up at work most days anyway, I can quite easily skive for a day.

Replies to poll

[liv]

I'm sorry, but how many people selected the axe murderer option? I mean, honestly, what are you guys like? See checkbox... TICKEH!

Ahem. pseudomonas, I am definitely going to see you at some point. It doesn't make a lot of sense for me to stay with you since my parents live nearby, but it might work out that if I want to come to the Carlton and meet your geek crowd then spending the night will be easier than trying to get home very late. Will ponder. (And yes, I do know that Britain is in Europe. Thank you for playing pedantry.)

ixwin, I'm touched that you filled in the poll since we've only met once really. But sure, I'd like to get together with you next time I'm in London, that would be really lovely!

rozallin, how manageable is it for you to get into central London? And what kind of meeting place appeals to you? Cafe or similar? A lot of the stuff I tend to do in London with friends involves quite a bit of walking, things like museums and parks and stuff; would you be up for that sort of thing? I do like the idea of meeting up though!

khalidz0r, I appreciate the thought, but Saudi is really not a plausible place for me to visit. Especially not while I have Israeli visas in my passport. Sorry.

monanotlisa, I would really like to come and visit you in Germany, what a charming suggestion! What is your situation with exams and so on – are you going to be reasonably free this summer? And if so from when?

hmw26, it would be so cool to meet up, it's been how many years?! You're planning to be in Cam over the summer, then?

loreid and elemy, you are both so invited to come and visit me once I'm back with my parents. And if that doesn't work out then I'll see you when you happen to be in Cambridge.

[blue-mai.livejournal.com]

oh so tempted to check last box.
i'm not being very good at keeping an eye on lj. i do and it seems no-one is posting anything then i go off for a bit and things happen when i'm not looking.
anyway, of course i want to see you. i can put you up fairly indefinitely, at least some of the time on a bed. in fairly central london. or can come up to cambridge any weekend unless otherwise planned at as short notice as you like. you have my number. you go to the carlton?! does pseudonomas live in arbury?

[liv]

oh so tempted to check last box.
What can I say? 10 people so far who I'm sure would claim to be as intelligent as you are have succumbed to that temptation.

i'm not being very good at keeping an eye on lj.
Tis not an obligation.

i do and it seems no-one is posting anything then i go off for a bit and things happen when i'm not looking.
This happens sometimes, especially since the only people you friend are fairly sporadic posters.

anyway, of course i want to see you.
Yay! I'm not going to be foolish and let several years pass before I see you again.

i can put you up fairly indefinitely, at least some of the time on a bed. in fairly central london.
Thank you. I'm not too bothered about accommodation in London, since if I want to be in London then going home to Cambridge at the end of the day is not a big problem. But at some point it might well be useful to stay over for one night and just give myself a bit more flexibility, plus of course more time with you.

or can come up to cambridge any weekend unless otherwise planned at as short notice as you like.
That would also work very well. And it's exactly the reason why I'm going to get out of Dundee as fast as I can once I'm through the PhD; Dundee is a really lovely place, but it's several hours' journey away from essentially all my friends.

you have my number.
Indeed, and I shall make more arrangements once my own plans are more definite.

you go to the carlton?!
Well, not yet. But lots of my friends and people I'd like to be friends with whom I know through LJ go there.

does pseudonomas live in arbury?
No, I think the place where pseudomonas lives counts as Cambridge still, but it's that side of Cambridge, up behind Lucy Cavendish. I still don't really understand the layout of Cambridge despite hanging out there for 14 years.