WANTED: RootsTech 2015 Roomie

I am dying to attend RootsTech 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah on Feb 11-14 next year.

DYING.

(Fitting for a zombie, no?)

At first I was feeling a bit intimidated by this huge conference. Okay, I'll admit it - I've been SKERRED of it! All the classes, all the professionals... all the PEOPLE in general! I'm not much into crowds and I'm not a great one for small talk which makes networking a tad difficult. And on top of all that Salt Lake City itself is like the genealogist's Mecca. I don't know if I'm ready for the library of all libraries!!!

I have also been leery to the point of despondent because of the sheer cost of attendance. Registration fee, any extra events or classes... then whatever you buy in the marketplace (and you WILL buy something in the marketplace no matter how hard you try not to)... and hotel costs, food and FLIGHT on top of that (cuz I'm not driving for 24+ hours in the winter)... YIKE! No one ever said genealogy was an inexpensive pursuit but SHEESH!

So I'd pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I won't be putting in an appearance at RootsTech for a while. And then registration opened this morning...

https://registration.rootstech.org

When I have many other genealogical things I could be doing with my time, of course I found myself browsing the classes they're offering... perusing the events schedule... taking a quick peek at the price list... Annnnnd I got my hopes up.

*face palm*

The student rate for registration is $39 for the 4 full days as opposed to $159 (or $139 if you take advantage of the coupon code on the RootsTech Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RootsTech). That's quite the difference, Batman!!!

Annnnnd technically I'm a student. Not even just technically - officially. I am currently enrolled at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies in the Canadian Records, English Records and Professional Development certificate programs. I am hoping to graduate in the spring of 2016. However, although NIGS used to be affiliated with St. Michael's College of the University of Toronto, they are not anymore and so NIGS is an online only, distance-education type of school. My point is: NIGS is not a traditional university; therefore, I wasn't sure if the RootsTech student rate would apply to me since a Student ID will be requested upon arrival.

Curious, I emailed RootsTech Information at info@rootstech.org with my inquiry and was pleasantly surprised with a response in  less than 10 minutes. Their verdict is that if I can provide an official letter confirming my enrollment or a current transcript upon arrival, they will give me the student registration rate!

WOOHOO!!! *happy dance*

But wait... wait, wait, wait!

Can I really afford this? Really?

Thanks to a quick google, I estimate about $500 for a round trip flight from Ottawa to Salt Lake City. (I will have to tell hubby to stay home LOL). Then I have to factor in a hotel room that is not too far from the conference so that I can walk there - for four nights, this will probably be around $400 plus tax. Then there is food to consider... and anything I absolutely NEED to purchase at the marketplace... So at least $1000 to get there and acquire shelter and sustenance.

That's a lot...

BUT...

At the student rate, I can attend the full four days of the conference (even though I don't think I will go to the Developer's Day), three lunch events, the evening dinner thingy and a couple of computer labs for pretty much the same price as a regular registration! That's really a very hard opportunity to pass up - I won't be a student forever, afterall! If I had to pay the full rate, I probably would not go to any of the extra events.

It's a gut-wrenching decision...

So, I'm looking for a RootsTech 2015 Roomie! Anyone interested??? Non-smoker please.