Porting my cellphone number

I have a phone with T-Mobile but I want to buy an iPhone and I want to keep my old number. The problem is that my old number is from a geographical location that I no longer live in. I've had this number for a very long time and a lot of places that I'm associated with have my number so I really don't want to get rid of it. But AT&T will not port my number since I'm not currently in my old location. Does anyone know a way around this? There HAS to be someone out there that has experienced the same problem.

I've been waiting for a 32 GB iPhone for a long time but this portability issue is throwing a wrench into everything.

Thanks in advance!!!

do it online or over the phone and tell them you're still at your old location?

I live in Florida, but lost my phone on the train in Chicago. I went to a Chicago store and had no problems getting a new phone with my Florida number...