Surfing Waves

So you just started surfing and you don't know where to start. What equipment do I need? What type of board? What size board? What type of wetsuit? What beach should I start at?

All these hectic questions are normal.

1.) buy a used fun/longboard
2.) get in the water as much as possible, lessons even if you have the time/money/desire
3.) ???????
4.) profit

really though...some simple things: where do you live? height/weight? athletic ability (couch potato -> ultra-marathoner)?