Vakkotaur

How long does it take for a place not to be "the old [whatever] place"?

I got an approximate location of a Pack-n-Send kind of place. It was "Do you remember where X used to be?" Well, no, I don't. I recognize the name, but that's it. Unless I stopped there regularly it simply doesn't register. "Oh it's next to/across from the Ford dealer. Guess what I drove by twice and did not see this noon? I saw no evidence of this shipping place. If they have a sign, I managed to miss it. Twice. And I was looking for them. I drove by a third time, but I was looking at other side of the street by then.

I just called the place. Luckily Fairmont is small enough that when anyone moves within the town, the phone number automatically moves with them - the old address is in the phone book. I asked where they where. I got an address, and was told they were the in next building west of a lumber place. Okkay, that narrows it down. But I also got told, first, "We're in the old Fleet Farm building." I've been living in this town for 7+ years now. Fleet Farm was where it is now when I got here. That's why there are proper numeric street addresses - so you don't have to know what things used to be long before you arrived.

Okkay, so I should have called earlier in the morning. I had figured the place would be easy to find, with a big sign and all. That meant no need to call and ask. The only good thing is that nobody gave the tired old lie "You can't miss it." "You can't miss it" is a code. It means "You'll miss it. And drive by at least three times."

It's a good thing that what I'm sending is not urgent.