AC lover here too. My DD can't wait to get home from college so she can play again!
We started with the GC version and have 4 towns between the two of us.
Now with the Wii we're just getting started.
For those wondering about all the ins and outs of the game, there are websites you can go to...but, the best thing we've found is to get the game guide
It's available at online retailers and and many of the places that sell the Wii and AC. It's published by Prima and retails for $19.99. Toys R Us had it on sale recently for half-price. It explains pretty much everything and has a calendar of events, a listing of the character and neighbors, a catalog of all the items, bugs, fish, clothes, stationary, etc. Plus, it also has checkboxes so each player can keep track of everything they've caught, bought or found.
I know it's another 20 bucks on top of the cost of the game (reminds me of the line Rex has in Toy Story..."you can't win the game unless you buy this guide! It's extortion!") but for us it's been totally worth it