After we leave the country, not knowing when we'll be back, our cell phones become pretty much useless. Actuall they become too expensive to use, so we'll likely cancel our cell phone contracts and renew them when we return. During that time we plan to use an internet service called SKYPE (www.skype.com) that allows us to speak with anyone/anywhere, anytime we have an Internet connection. Our new laptop has a little camera embedded in it so we can even have video. Like Google, it's added a new set of words to the vocabulary ("I skyped my family last night"). Here I am skyping with my brother Steve in northern Tennessee from the boat. It's easy to set up on your computer and free between those on Skype, and only 2 cents a minute to "skype" a regular phone number. Pretty cool.