Just a last note: Went to the Yuma hamfest today, took the technician test and passed! Yabbadabbadoo, as Fred Flintstone would say. Now to figure out what's going on! (Gotta' confess that I tried to get cocky and took the general exam---missed by one question! Now to unravel the issue of how to grandfather the tech license up to my previous class.) Lots of nice folks associated with the examining team and the Yuma ham club, by the way!
BTW: Is anyone in the Yuma area? I'd appreciate some advice on how to access the local repeaters and what kind of handheld transceiver to get to access them. I will play around with the vhf/uhf bands before pursuing the hf emergency issue.