Moving forward

Today we rented an apartment. It is in a "mansion" that is about 100 years old. It is half the bottom floor. One bedroom and the other basics included. It is described as "old world charm" so think rustic and a little shabby. It is downtown in the district known as South Hill. Yes it is hilly. Phil may get fit walking to and from work :) It is a trendy kind of area with the main draw card being Huckleberries an organic supermarket. Kind of like Norton Grocer but more health/organic food oriented and with a liquor section, coffee section, tea section and cafe and less Italian!

Rent is so cheap here. Equals about 1.5 weeks Sydney rent per month! Now that's a bargain.

Fi has had a few responses to job applications. Nothing settled yet. The annoying system known as the credit check may dampen her chances on one job which offers a company car and credit card (can you believe it!) as she is even less than a "ghost" here. A "ghost" is someone who has no credit score in the USA. Phil is a ghost. Credit scores dictate life here. We couldn't even get a phone contract or a credit card here. We could however co-sign on a car with Phil's aunt. By making payments Phil will begin to accumulate a credit score. It is based on making payments on time. Fi is yet to receive her Social Security number which is used to record credit scores therefore she is like less than a ghost - like a mythical ghost like Casper. Turns out the land of the free is enslaved by the credit system... and they wonder why everything went so wrong!