bampilot06

when you have a pig take a **** on the floor of your car tell me how you feel about it.

bampilot06

flying in Alaska, totally worth it.

Velo Vol 

Any inconvenience caused is trumped by the comforting presence of the pig.

Mojo31

So, now you're a Trumper!

Velo Vol 

Since grade school, generally. There were a few years I didn't play very often.

MoAlpha

Amen.

abshipp 

It's not just any animal though, it's mine! Mine is special, just like me!

abshipp 

It's bad enough we have to be that close to other people!

*shudder*

genejockey 

Concur. And I felt that way BEFORE COVID.

MoAlpha

It's worse for people who have to be close to me. I'm the guy people will walk through four crowded train cars and sit next to the toilet to avoid.

Mojo31

I'm afraid to ask why that is, but will anyway.

Mojo31

I'm with you. I used to fly a lot, but since March have not been on a single flight. When I was flying, I was always looking for upgrade opportunities using miles or paying a reasonable amount just to get some space and distance. I really don't like sitting next to people I don't know in the coach section (unless she's really hot and usually she's not). By the same token, I'm sure I'm not all that pleasant to sit next to for 3 or 4 hours in a crowded cabin.

WhyFi

"This is my comfort animal. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My comfort animal is my best friend. It is my life."

WhyFi

Ha ha ha - this reminds me of making the n00b mistake of jumping in to the empty subway car during rush hour. After making that mistake a couple times, it is kind of fun to sit back and watch others stumble in to the trap.

Velo Vol 

Are you a frownie person?

abshipp 

Flying commercially has never been all that enjoyable for me. My dad has flown for Southwest for the last 15 years or so, and back before passenger loads became really high I would non-rev fairly often. Nothing quite like going through all the pageantry of TSA just to sit at the gate hoping you get on the airplane. The non-rev "buddy passes" are also the lowest priority for boarding which means on a carrier like Southwest, if you got on the airplane you were in the very back in a middle seat. It sucked. Kind of glad that it's not really an option anymore. I'll gladly pay the money for a real ticket just to avoid that stress.

I think that I'm pleasant to sit next to. I shower daily and wear actual clothes that are clean - none of that sweatsuit nonsense. And I don't talk to anyone unless they talk to me first. The airplane itself just hates me since I'm a long-legged 74" tall.

abshipp 

I wish I could have experienced the days of flying pre 9/11 though. Sounds almost enjoyable

Mojo31

It was a lot better. In the '80s when I started flying a lot, it cost $25 to upgrade to first if you were a frequent flyer member. Every flight I took was first class because of that and the way the firm I was working for at the time billed for air travel. There was also no TSA or really any security checks at all, so you could get to the airport about 30 minutes before your flight and walk on. It was quite nice.

Then airfares became "affordable," 911 happened, and "I've got my rights" got in the way of sharing space and being courteous to others.

I'm actually not bad to sit next to. I know my way around the planes and airports, don't carry a bunch of crap, don't try to hog space, and generally help things move smoothly where I can. I just don't like to talk on flights, so I put on the headphones and keep to myself.

Until mid-2020 when the oil market fell so much, I was actually getting to fly private from time to time for my work. Can't beat that at all.

phrantic09

Got a line on a Giant Revolt Advanced 2- allegedly arriving mid January. Works out perfectly and lets me worry a little less about trashing my R3 over the winter. Now I just need to find some gravel/dirt

genejockey 

Meeting people at the gate - that's one thing I really miss. Since moving to the San Francisco area in 1982, I've had family and friends come to visit quite a bit - way more than the sister who lived in New Jersey - and it was a lot easier, and friendlier, to meet people at the gate and guide the through SFO to the baggage carousel, rather than making them find it, and having to find them.

Also, back in 1982 when I was leaving to go take that job in California, Mom and Dad sat with me at the gate, which was nice since I was moving 3000 damn miles to a place where I knew nobody to take a job I wasn't sure I could do.....

LesterOfPuppets

Sure, when you have a pallet bonfire in the back yard.

Trsnrtr

Ditto. I was being flippant because PT often involves some pain but it's a necessary endeavor.

All the best, indyfabz

Trsnrtr

IKR

Trsnrtr

I remember when smoking was allowed. Not enjoyable.

BillyD

Indeed.