I was down to the last couple of weeks left on my two Rockets and a bit nervous about my first Bitcoin adventure. So I reviewed all the material and it finally hit me. All you do is renew on the website, take a picture of a symbol, go to the Bitcoin ATM, let the machine scan the symbol, and stick money in the machine until the correct fractional Bitcoin number is met or slightly exceeded. Then you hope it all works. And DAMN it did work pretty much like that!

The only thing is I live in a rural area where the closest Bitcoin ATM is 70 miles away. When I got to the convenience store, I wanted the workers to think I'd been doing this all my life. So I just walked up to the machine, touched the screen and followed directions (remembering the video I'd watched more than once). I indicated I wanted to buy Bitcoin and it asked me for my cell phone number to receive a password text message. I immediately got the code on my phone and entered it on the ATM screen. I then held my phone with symbol picture up to the ATM's scanner and the wallet details showed up on the screen. I put bills into the machine, watching after each to see if I was close to the Bitcoin equivalent amount stated on my renewal order. I did overpay a bit because I inserted a 10 for the last bill and could have probably put in a 5 to just inch over the right number. I'll be smarter next time.

By the time I drove back home, the Rocket renewal success email was in my inbox, and I confirmed the order status and checked both Rockets. Both showed the correct number of days remaining and I breathed a sigh of relief.

All in all, it went just like it should.