A house is not a home....

I took this picture from inside the house. It's way cooler out on the balcony. But it was HOT!



The very American kitchen.


So I dove in head first to the house hunt today. We have a rent ceiling of 180,000 yen a month, and rents are negotiable here, much more so than at home. It's such a strange land, you're supposed to haggle on your rent, but don't tip at dinner???

Anyway we're not sure where to live. There are multiple bases on the island and Josh is working on Hansen with a medical battalion. I have no idea why they would have him working with a medical battalion. The point is that, Hansen is about an hour away from the big bases. The ones full of American's and base grocery stores and activities that I want to get involved in. So do we live close to his work, and far away from everything else? Or close to all the fun and give him a commute?

I looked at a duplex today that is in a mainly local town, although there are a few units with Americans in them. There were mountains, sugar cane fields, traditional Okinawan homes. It was so surreal. I live here. I live here. I live here. No way!

The duplex itself was gorgeous, hardwood floors, modern American kitchen, a garage, two balconies, and an amazing ocean view. We can walk to the beach within two minutes from our door. It's just incredible. But it's so far from most of the military here...I just don't know. Beautiful home, that makes it a hassle to meet up with people?
Or find something closer and make Josh drive all the time?

Gah...what to do??

We need to look at more options. And make this decision mostly with our heads...and keep our hearts out of it. Or at least try to.