Starting out in Indy

On Wednesday night we arrived in Indy and an empty condo with a chirping unreachable smoke detector. We called Brendan who on his way to a memorial service. He gave us the key to his garage so we could get a ladder. Doug removed two - the chirping continued. With no other immediate option we slept lulled by intermittent chirping. In the morning we called the management company. We learned that we had to have a smoke detector but obtaining and maintaining it was our responsibility. Translation - it is your problem and we don't know how you can solve it. The local hardware store was more helpful, the staff conferred and decided had overlooked a detector or similar device. We returned home, found two more detectors. They were in different rooms, but inches from each other making it hard to pinpoint the source of the chirping. We bought batteries, reinstalled the detectors, and savored the silence.

Movers to a new city boost the local economy. So far we have bought two computer desks, a dining table, shower and refrigerator filters, food, and cleaning supplies. Most of our purchases were preceded by comparison shopping. After four days of looking at computer tables we sighted a Meiers and remembered from our days in Michigan that "Meiers has everything." And it did. We bought a dining table and computer desk there.

Food shopping involved visiting unfamiliar stores and deciding where we would buy spices, produce, wine, and bread. We found different stores for spices, produce, and bread! Fortunately the grocery that is two blocks away has the best bread (and it is open until 2:00 a.m.).

As an alternative to shopping - we joined the Y (5 blocks away) and the Indiana Museum of Art, and made plans to go to a play, a 1949 movie, and a symphony concert this week.

If only our furniture would arrive!