A Home Away from Home

Hi Tommy-san - Konnichiwa! As I told you in another letter, I put a deposit down on a house today. There seem to be many apartments available (or a floor of a house), but not as many houses. The realtor called this morning to say that another American family wanted the house I looked at on Saturday, so I had to make a decision or lose it. I rushed over there with the realtor and decided to take it. The apartment on the other coast by Lisa was beautiful (huge, with an ocean view to die for), but I decided that you would feel too isolated up in a high rise, a 15 minute drive on the expressway from Kadena AB. I think I made the right decision. I'll tell you about the Japanese apartments/houses I visited when we talk on the phone, but for one reason or another, I didn't think they were right. And here is my thinking. This is a two year contract (really less, because of the school year). I don't want to wait too long to get settled. This house is in Yomitan, very close to Tori Station. It is a rancher, in a supposedly quiet, Japanese neighborhood. It is a couple years old - the American family that PCS-ed (moved) lived there for 2 1/2 years. It has a small garden (with grass that we will need to cut), where you can put up your feeders. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths (bathtub/shower combination), a kitchen (electric) with a pantry, and lots of cabinets. I'll need to get the appliances from base. The dining room/living room is one large room. Lots of windows. Bedrooms are relatively small, but I think it'll be okay. We should be able to fit our master bedroom furniture in our bedroom, but the chair will probably need to go into the third bedroom, which I think we will use as a study. There are several walk-in closets and storage areas. The floors are hardwood and there is recessed lighting throughout the place. The wires are there for a satellite dish, which I am told I can get from base. I tentatively told them that I will move in on Oct 24th, so I will need to ask housing for some furniture. I can move in sooner, if I buy a car. That's my next job - to find a car. Although I don't mind walking, I don't like imposing on people all the time for a ride.