YOu're right, ita, Frodo organizes a move to the eastern part of the Shire as part of a plan to quietly get the ring out of the Shire. He even sells Bag End to the Sackville-Bagginses. Merry and Pippin figure something is up when Frodo decides to sell out, but Sam, their primary spy, clams up when Gandalf catches him.

Time frame--a couple/few months between discovery of the ring to removal from Hobbiton. Maybe a bit longer.

Yes, several years between Bilbo leaving and Frodo finding out what the ring is.

how long is it between when Frodo gets the ring, and he leaves the shire?

In the books, it is 17 years from when Frodo receives the ring until the "trial by fire" that reveals it to be the One Ring, then another six months before Frodo leaves the Shire.

I wish I could remember what my primary angle had been in the bet at work. I think I had more time between the Trial and the departure, but months will do. And selling Bag End was definitely not something my co-worker was believing in.

Thanks!

Does Frodo ever use an assumed name?

Yes. Mr. Underhill.

Ta. I was right on that, at least.

Yeah, Underwood or Underhill or something like that, I think. From when they leave the Shire until around when they meet Strider.

t x-post, of course

Underhill -- in Bree.

In Bree, Frodo is questioned as to his connections to some Bree hobbits also named Underhill, and Butterber (the innkeeper) continues to call him "Mr. Underhill" when they return after the quest is over, even though he knows that it's a false name.

One thing I sort of miss in the film was more of a feeling that Bree was a border town between the Shire and the "Big People"--there are no other hobbits either imbibing at the Prancing Pony, or employed there, as there are in the books, even though there are accommodations for hobbits.