coldhearted scientist وداد

I am teaching in July to fund home repair and December travel. I could stay home in June but it would not be as inexpensive as alleged, because:

– I would spend money on air conditioning
– I would spend money on gasoline
– I would be likely to spend money on voyages to Houston and New Orleans
– I would be paying US grocery prices.

However, the cheapest flight I can see from Maringouin to Mexico City, the most practical fieldwork site for me, is now $752. That is much higher than what I am used to paying – almost twice as much. Meanwhile, for $880, I could fly from Maringouin to San Francisco, then continue on to Mexico, and return to Maringouin five weeks after my departure – spending a week in San Francisco and four in Mexico City, both at low rent and living on juicy cheap tacos.

The voyage would be partly tax deductible since I have a conference in San Francisco and business in Mexico. And I am expecting a Federal income tax refund of at least $2,500, which will more than pay for this entire escapade (flight $880, bags $75, airport transportation $75, rent SF $400, conference registration $120, rent Mexico $650, total $2200) – one which I consider worthwhile, furthermore.

What to do? As I say, it is “sensible” to stay home – that same cash would pay for a home repair – but I have a strange feeling I would incur other expenses due to frustration, and that if I travel I will be happy and want nothing more.

Note: The problem, or not, is that this means taking the LSAT in Mexico June 11. Would all the moving around disrupt studying? Last year the heat, and the pressures of home, disrupted it and I cancelled the test. The other option would be just to go to Mexico, instead of San Francisco. That would save: $130 flight, $120 conference registration, $400 San Francisco rent, and $25 in airport transportation. But I couldn’t spend that time in Mexico and still save the money, as it is much more expensive to be there by the week than by the month. So I could stay home, saving just under $600, but I think I would get a lot out of visiting SF.

In SF I could: see family; see 3 friends I just missed; go to the conference which would be beneficial, refresh myself with beauty and culture, and just relax. I could also get my hair cut without having to travel to Houston from Maringouin. That seems to be worth the $600 which is tax deductible due to the conference.

Ay. It all has to do with the fact that it sounds cheaper, but is not necessarily cheaper to stay home. I want to go. If I remain calm and study for the LSAT a little every day rain or shine, the moving about will not disrupt me any more than sitting home in the heat and June bugs will do. And under the Maringouin-SFO-Mex-Maringouin plan I will get to Mexico a good two weeks before the LSAT, which will be long enough to get into a good routine.

These are my arguments; the success of the plan depends entirely upon doing research during the week and during daylight hours this semester, and studying for the LSAT daily, starting soon.

Axé.