Step 3

Step 1 was actually finding the place. We visited La Crosse 3 weeks ago and looked at a few apartments. We contemplated on buying a house too, but time was not on our side for that. By the evening of our first day there, we had selected the new Gund Brewery Lofts. The next day we did all of the paperwork besides signing the lease. The lease will be signed when we move in.

Step 2 was buying a car. The following week, Jenevieve and I decided on getting either a Honda or a Toyota. We did some research online and our choices were narrowed down to the Honda Fit, the Honda Civic, or the Toyota Corolla, new or certified used. We wanted a hybrid, but those cars were not in our price range. Because we were shopping around in Madison, the Honda Fit was out of the question--none in town and back-ordered for seemingly years. The Honda Civic was our second choice, but it is the #1 selling car in Madison, so prices could not be talked down. We bought a new 2007 Toyota Corolla for only $800 than a certified used 2007.

Now were on step 3--telecommunications. Today I selected a wireless phone provider, Working Assets for economical and ethical reasons. The plan and phone won't be purchased until Jenevieve and I agree on what's best for us.

Telecommunications have changed since we last lived in the United States in 2002. Back then, a cellphone wasn't as essential as it is now. And our Internet was provided by the University of Maryland because I was a student, and it was dial-up. We didn't have cable because we were dirt poor. Our biggest expense was paying for local calls, about $20/month in Baltimore back in the day. Our long-distance was quite cheap usually, but that was the biggest headache because we switched from AT&T to Sprint to Working Assets.

Now we will have cellphones, Internet (DSL or broadband), and most likely cable. Shopping for these services while not living in La Crosse is daunting. I am taking advice from anyone who will give it to me. My mom's Internet-provider does not serve the La Crosse area. And my in-laws are suffering from a cable-providing monopoly in Westminster. So advice so far has been limited. The large telecommunications corporation in La Crosse is Charter, but I was told to beware.

We hope to have decisions or at least answers before we move out of our temporary home in Westminster. Then it will be on to step 4--acquiring the rental truck. If you have any advice or comments about setting up telecommunications service, please add your comments to the blog or email me.