Getting settled in Phuket

We have been in Thailand for over a week now and starting to get settled.  As is the case whenever one moves to a new town there is an adaptation process that must take place.  For us it has been no different, but we are starting to feel at home.  The following have been a few of the bigger challenges:

1. Driving a car - the roads are quite good, but most roads don't have much of a shoulder.  So the only thing trickier than driving is finding a place to park.  Cars do in fact regularly park on the shoulder, necessitating passing vehicles to swerve partially into the other lane.  Therefore, when driving you need to be very aware of traffic in both lanes, plus the many motorbikes scooting on either side of you.  Oh yes, also in Thailand we drive on the left side of the road.  Otherwise, it's just like driving at home.
2. Shopping - no problem here, as we have a couple good sized grocery stores just a ten minute drive away.  One sells some items in bulk like a Costco. Our only problem here is that we need a larger refrigerator.  There are also some huge shopping malls on the island that are just like at home and I hope never to return to.
3. School - we knew that Alex had transitioned well to his new school when he announced that he didn't want to go to school anymore.  "Hang in there buddy, just twenty more years," I assured him.  He is going just part-time, during the mornings, and when we're home we can hear the kids playing and speculate whether or not that is Alex we hear crying.
4. Neighbourhood sounds - one of the characteristics of our Thai house that makes it so authentic is that is far from sound-proof.  Consequently, I've had the pleasure of being awoken in morning by local roosters, the local mosque's call for morning prayers, or a combination of the two.  The good news is that I'm getting used to it and sleeping in almost as late as Alex.
5. Gym - It is just a five minute walk from our place and has weights on one floor, a hot yoga room and cardio on the the next floor, and on the roof-top a restaurant and swimming pool with a spectacular view of the area.  My speculation is that hot yoga is simply regular yoga with the window open.  We haven't actually joined yet, but we will, very soon, when the time is right.
6. Favourite beach - with a pool in our backyard we (i.e. me) haven't always felt the need to explore the area.  However, so far our favourite is Nai Harn beach, which is just a five minute drive away, isn't too busy, has a shaded playground and a side beach great for making sandcastles.