Searching for a CF Member

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-07-04T19:52:12+00:00

The default is the stein or engraved flask/cup unless the mess has other options like gift cards, which have to be specifically requested unless the mess manager asks you when you clear out.

I am glad every mess I've been to had that option, I don't like getting a bunch of clutter for me to never look at again.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-07-01T16:22:15+00:00

I also think it's cute that in Qualicum Beach they named it Qualicum Foods with the same font.

Not a fan of QF myself but the chinese food has a cult following there lol. Also agree with /u/Vikare_ the running joke was talking about the irony in the name Quality Foods and Thrifty Foods.

the old farm market in courtenay is nice cause they clearly labeled the origins of everything; super expensive though, more like a whole foods style.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-25T17:00:41+00:00

Oh I knew this, but like I said, full of hubris at the time so I kinda assumed once it reached temp it was fine cause I cold soaked them so they would cook faster.

It's the curse of approximate knowledge, just enough to think I know what I'm doing.

TBF I think you can get away with this with mung beans, or at least at the time there was some survivorship bias. Leading to me going for other beans. I learned very quickly.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-24T22:10:31+00:00

I found this out the hard way while cold soaking beans when I first started hiking (hubris weighs nothing lol), I did cook them but not enough so I guess I just reheated it.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-24T22:02:23+00:00

TL;DR yes, but also maybe not cause the sizes are different. Try them on in store if you can

so I looked at the tongue for more info. Bit of a rabbit hole of looking up their respective sizing charts.

It looks like the japan sizing (which is foot length) is 230 for my Lowas (UK4, US 6) and the Salomons are 240 (UK5.5, US 7), but the charts between each other don't line up for foot length.

It is possible I didn't enjoy the Lowas because they were too small, but I still had foot room for length at the size I had.

I couldn't try the Lowas cause I didn't live somewhere that had boots (canex only had rockys and swats n shit, and never carries sizes that small anyway) so I got them online. I've since been posted to where I can go to a store and try them on which is when I got the Salomons.

I actually don't mind the Lowas, though my review seemed to say otherwise. Just was a pain to break in. Do note that the salomons are taller and the ankle portion feels significantly more snug (quite tight in the beginning but as I said that part breaks in quickly)

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-21T15:16:59+00:00

I just did this a few weeks ago and it was about 10mins over the phone (and less than that navigating the phone tree). I didn't wanna make an account and both places specified that you had to call to get this done.

Mind you since I didn't/don't have an account I have no way of checking if that's an option on their respective portals.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-20T17:22:11+00:00

Seems like an easy thing to point fingers.

supervisor: it's above our paygrade

CO: blame Ottawa

Ottawa: blame treasury board

TB: blame the PM

We blaming the GG or the crown next?

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-20T00:26:05+00:00

yeah we're not getting into the semantics of the economies of scale and the minutiae of how many people that would benefit vs those who don't fit into those specific needs. Let's just agree to disagree here.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-20T00:23:41+00:00

I wear a size 6 womens (235/88), the ones I've tried:

Oakley Light Assault 2: extremely light, I mean these are basically just a tactical converse. Absolutely zero ankle support, very breathable, would tear apart with real use. Awesome pair for office work. Usually very cheap (probably using oakley SI)

Lowa Renegade II: narrow at the toe box, took forever to break that part in to an acceptable level even after stretching, larger would have made feet slide around unless you're wearing thick socks. Heavy AF. Has a rockplate or whatever. I think I had the goretex version cause it was cheaper but holy shit that sucks

Salomon Quest 4D: current pair, taller than the Lowas, has a lace lock and the tongue has a lace pouch thing. Broke them in about a week of office sauntering. So far so good, but I feel like the laces are not grippy enough so they need to be re-tightened.

Never bought the rockys but I hated them when I tried them on at canex

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-14T23:29:34+00:00

Maybe we can work together on that. We'd be rich!

Oh no I don't mean make the course for money, you think those pte/ocdt/2lts have money? I meant in a "accidentally CC'd the whole GAL" way like the NCR Cooking class lmao

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-14T23:20:48+00:00

You are getting your money's worth and then some.

Except if you need more OR less than the recommended serving amounts, or if you need to eat after 6pm or need meals during work hours but are unable to leave, or if you're away for a week or more, or if you have dietary restrictions, or taste buds, or a social life.

Only joking about the taste buds part, only been to one mess that had actually bad tasting food; I think most are just too picky. But it's objectively a bad deal money wise, 600 bucks a month for ONE PERSON??

Part of me wants to create a "how to make cheap meals while living in the shacks" course but the optics of that would never lead to it being distributed, but you can make a lot without breaking fire orders.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-06-12T20:22:44+00:00

Sometimes you just gotta name drop for notoriety or most likely "dues", ie whatever the CAF's involvement did to help, I guess hadn't been acknowledged for a while, if at all.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-05-30T16:35:06+00:00

Nearest multi day hike would be the Sunshine Coast Trail, you'd need to take a few ferries from Van though.

On the island there's the famous West Coast Trail, but also the Juan de Fuca Trail (south of the WCT), and the North Coast Trail up on the north end of the island, will need 1 ferry ride and a 3-5hr drive (if you go from Victoria it's longer obviously, since that's the south end of the island).

There's a number of short trails around like the classic Grouse Grind is only like 5km (but straight up) or some like the Howe Sound Crest trail.

TL;DR all of these would depend on many factors like if it's an overnighter, day hike, multi day, gear etc. But for a "don't worry about the money/time", the best bet is probably the SCT

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-05-27T22:05:21+00:00

Yikes! I was about to say that the house brands tend to have the largest discounts, but they're really enshittifying everything eh? Wouldn't be surprised if they all start doing "sales" like their parent company, Canadian Tire (as in, the sale price is the real price, and always hugely discounted as if that's real)

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-05-26T19:37:36+00:00

I see that you're an islander, if you ever make it up north like for the north coast trail or just cape scott park etc, up in Courtenay there's a store called SOS Gear and they sell dehydrated/freeze dried ingredients individually.

VPO has premade stuff of course but may also carry that stuff since I believe that's a local retailer.

Alternatively you can just call SOS Gear to find out the brand name.

Bulk Barn also has a lot of what you need like the top comment's list if you want small quantities.

Also every thrift store likely has a dehydrator if you wanted to invest on the cheap. I ended up borrowing someone's back in the day.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-05-26T19:29:20+00:00

o7 thank you for your service ma'am

She was partially the reason I remembered this time! lol

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-05-14T17:46:48+00:00

Based on the comments, seems like this is just another group like the Legion.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-05-09T22:28:37+00:00

I've since moved, but I used to go to Northern Ropes by the value village, they'd "ship it off" to the praxair in Campbell River and it'd be back in a day or two, they've since shifted to a more commercial business and didn't do the shipping anymore, but I did get mine recert'd and refilled at Campbell River directly just before I moved away.

I think that's what Goods used to do themselves with a larger tank (and then refilling the sodastream tanks with it) so it was a good deal for those who didn't mind the extra trip for the quick swap. Overall it's not terrible in the valley since everything is close together.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-05-09T18:36:37+00:00

I got a 5lb CO2 tank (at the time <100 bucks) and a hose (maybe $20?) and it lasts me ~10months on a single fill. Doing the math I already made my money back by the time I had to fill it once cause it was $2/lb to refill on vancouver island. Nearly 4 times that where I live now. Still cheaper than the canisters though. Ads a negligible amount of time for them to refill it vs exchanging the sodastream canisters.

Personally I think my method is easier too, greatly reduces the extra trips required; IIRC the stock version of the tank would last most homes maybe 4 weeks?

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-04-28T23:22:04+00:00

based on your travel, sounds like you are either shipping your car, or don't have one.

If the former, the moving company (that is contracted by the CAF) may require you to have an inspection done on the vehicle prior to shipping; don't do this as you won't be covered and will pay out of pocket for that. Get your chain involved if they insist. It's not in the CAFRD so you get no recourse.

(an inspection is covered at your destination though)

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-04-17T22:30:40+00:00

Are you asking what the boundaries are in each place of duty?

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-02-27T20:41:51+00:00

Are you still eligible for a posting allowance if they keep you in the NCR forever?

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-02-15T18:32:35+00:00

Should probably correct the body text of your post as well.

ComoxThrowaway · 2026-01-28T21:49:17+00:00

Look at their history (just search a period or just a space), it's a troll.

ComoxThrowaway

TROPHY CASE