Hey guys,
so I know this is still a while away yet as I have to move out first and wait a few months 'till I'm all settled in and such but I need to start thinking about this now for my safety's sake.
My cane is an O.K. tool but I'd like more independence and would like to have a safer life, getting into an accident because of drivers ot paying as much atention as they should owuld really suck so here's my situation in detail.
the cane...gets stuck in between railings when going down the stairs, stabs you in the chest when it gets stuck in a crack, causes wrist starin and later carpal tunnel syndrome because of the required left to right wrist movement. When people use canes it also makes drivers think that people can see pretty well and are actually deaf or hearing impaired (some poeple including bus drivers scream questions at me sometimes, especially the old bus drivers who shout out their route numbers). We've been talking on occasion about Guide Dogs for a few years though it was rarely thought about until I started College and even more so now.
The location of the bus stop nearest to the school is actually a pretty dangerous one, when I cross some crs are so quiet I cannot hear them even when I check and even then...I got a few near-misses in the middle of the road. This doesn't just happen to me, the residents stuck in wheelchairs as well as another visually impaired student with degrading vision also had these issues. what also makes me want a Guide Dog more than ever now is the fact that I will work in an area where there is high traffic which means busy rads, especially dangerous when travelling in the mroning or at night in the winter time. here is where my problem starts...
I have to move out. I'm aiming to own a small condo, have a place where there's a park nearby or some trails. I know in what range i'd like the price of the house to be (between 130-175 grand), as well as what type of mortgage I'll have (fixed rate) after I'm settled for a few months I'll apply to Guide Dogs for the Blind in California, i'll be spending a month there...first time guide users have a 28-day stay, eveyrthing frre of charge except for the flight there an ack.
so finally, here's my question...I'd like any advice (serious ones please, I'm not posting this as a joke) s to which airline is best to travel from Ottawa to California, I know that Air canada is one option, the cheapest tickets for round-trip is close to 1000$ for cheapest ticket right now, Executive class depending on what it includes is a little over 1000 close to 2000$, as for the dog food I know which brand I'll be buying which will coast me about 20$, I think a little less.
As I said in the beginning...this is still awhile away, I'm waiting a max. of 4 years or should I wait a little longer? If so, how much longer? With my parents' advice for insurance and such I'll be good with that, especially isnce my budget will be close to the one my mother has I believe.
Note: For those of you who think a dog isn't a good idea, I'm not sure what would give me a higher sense of indepedence, self-esteem, security as well as reduce the amount of looks and faces and people grabbbing ym cane and all...I have thought of this for quie a long time, my only issue is mony and a place to stay. As for home appliances, I'm going for all energy-efficient appliances. I know it'll be a little expensive at first, I'll go at it slowly but in the long run it will pay off and it will show in the amount I'll be spending for Utilities.
