Wow !!!! Expected some backlash for the outline but ............jeeeesh C'mon guys I was just trying to help. OK, OK I get it, just another ANAL American. I hope not.

A little more background............. Over the last 20 years we have lived, worked or spent time in 26 States and 10 Countries. We have "Just Done It", "lived by the seat of our pants" and made almost every mistake you could make. Once we realized that we are moving our life and not going on vacation, "the list" was born. We have come to appreciate things we never thought we would and dislike things we thought we would love.

I like to think of the list as a "Culmination of Experience" or some sort of "Badge of Honor". Almost every item on that list has come from an experience of some sort.

I see many of the posts on this site and say "we've done that" ! We have moved somewhere to find out that after 6 month's we have "settled" for things on so many issues (where we lived, commute times, you name it) that we were not happy and could not truly enjoy the things that the area had to offer. "The list" was based on an that evolution of those events.

The main by-product of not being prepared is a general feeling of unhappiness. That can then be translated into distrust or resentment of the local population, customs and culture. Once that happens, it's no longer fun. I see that in many of the "complaint threads" on this site.

As I said earlier, I just wanted to possibly help some ex-pat's that may not be asking some of the question's they should be. Our experience has taught us that it's the "little things" that add up to make or break the move.

We just found out yesterday that there is a TV tax in addition to monthly cable service. 450 CHF per year. That's another 38 CHF per month (20 liters of fuel, or a dinner for two) no problem now that we know about it.

Now to answer some of your question's................

The "type of water" comment......this was added to the list when we found ourselves responsible for replacing a hot water heater on a regular basis because of the minerals in the water.

As for "moving Arizona to Switzerland"......You are WAYYYYYYY off course.

My previous occupations..........Residential and Commercial Construction, Operations, Telecommunications, Artist, Entrepenuer. I'd like to think that both sides of my brain work.

Bottomline......We do this work up front because we want to enjoy everything that Switzerland and the surrounding countries have to offer without worrying about details that we could have taken into consideration before we made the move.

As for "the list". Use it or abuse it. It's all good. I can take it.

We are DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY looking forward to spending the next few years of our life in Switzerland.

mick c