Begin Week #2

I finally got my ID this morning. Melba's group from The Sullivans School pulled away from the Naval Lodge at 7:15 a.m. Because it was so cool I opted to take the twenty minute walk to the passport and I.D. center instead of riding the bus. I was customer #1 when the window opened, but because of computer problems it was an hour-and-a-half before they could generate my card. No problem though. I didn't have to be anywhere this morning. I am here to relax.

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We have an appointment with the naval housing office at 1:30 p.m. Based on my wife pay grade, we qualify for a three-bedroom apartment in one of the 9-story towers off-base. Everyone we have met here who is also in the process of getting housing is so gung-ho about living on either one of two off-base naval housing facilities. The closest is a place called Ikego and one in Yokohama called Negishi. The housing office says that driving to Ikego is an easy task and will take approximately 25 to 30 minutes without heavy traffic. That is definitely not for us. On the other hand, the naval housing at Negishi is three times further from the base at Yokosuko.

It did not take a lot of discussion between the wife and I that we would be more comfortable finding housing on base, even if it meant having to downgrade to a two-bedroom. The on-base housing allows for an easy walk to school for the wife. The two off-base facilities would require shuttle buses, trains, or a personal vehicle for her to get to work on a daily basis. We asked for a downgrade, choosing convenience over culture.