newbie... any advice?

[ensquire]

One suggestion would be to use base rock and then you would only need a few pieces of actual live rock. A couple of the sponsors here sell the base rock for far less than 10.00/lb. and one even ships it for free. Just an idea, and the rock looks good.
I have very similar challenges to yours as I live 600 miles from nearest LFS. I have found most things can be found and purchased on line and I bet your shipping costs won't be quite as much as mine are. there are many quality on line sites to order equipment, fish & corals. Starting with the sponsor sites as well as numerous others.
If you want to check some of them out, send me a PM and I will send you a few more that aren't sponsors here.
As has already be stated though, the best move so far is joining this site, amazing resource of info and advise. Most of it useful. LOL