ID cards, housing office

Today the big accomplishments were to get my CAC and the family's ID cards.

In addition, we went to the housing office to explore housing options. We added our names to the on-post waiting list (putting us 6th in the queue), but are also exploring off-post options.

Off post housing seems like it will be a challenge. It's Japan, so naturally things will be smaller. Plus, Japanese style stoves don't typically have ovens.

Add in the single parking space, and you can see why most Americans would prefer on-post accommodations.

But then there's the issue of transportation to the kids' school, which makes the decision more complicated. The elementary school is on the Sagamihara Housing Area, but my job is on Camp Zama. And next year, P will be going to the middle school, which also is on Camp Zama.

There's also the issue of up-front costs. There's the "key money," (礼金, れいきん) which is like a month's rent up front, non-refundable. Then there the realtor commission (手数料、てすりょう) -- also nonrefundable -- and the somewhat refundable security deposit (敷金、しききん), which of course depends on the landlord.

So no matter which we choose, there's no perfect solution. If we hope for on-post housing, we risk using up our temporary lodging benefits. If we choose something off-post we risk getting stuck with a poor location or living conditions. And if we go off-post but then something on-post opens up, we would have to arrange to move own things.

Either way, we don't get our household goods until about March 9th, so we've got a little bit of time to think about it.