Turbo Basics

Hello to all. I've already read alot of the posts on this subject and followed several of the links in the posts to other websites for some technical data. Here's what I need. I've decided it's time to go turbo but, all I have is my handy dandy civic and a bunch of general knowledge about what a turbo does for your engine. I would like to know what I need to succesfully install a turbo, boosting about 12-18 psi. Here's what I know.
Garret is highly recommended
ssautocrap is to be kept away from my car

Install turbo means - retard timing, upgrade fuel system and ecu, lot's of time, lots of money, upgrade rods, pistons?, compression change, new exaust, high flow cat, and 2.5" - 3" cat back

I really would like an explanation to some of the common things that are reffered to when talking about civic's and turbo. What would be best would be an explination of everything associated with turbo set ups and what makes things tick the way that they do.

Please no flamming or telling me to search. I know that this topic has probably been discussed several times over and over. I would like this to be a post that could be stickied so that new commers to turbo's wouldn't have to do alot of searching. My engine specifics are in my sig.
Please stick to D15/16 turbo info and not off topic into swapping for B16's and such. You don't know how much I would appriciate any tech info I could get.

the truth is. do a search. theres years and thousands of post covering your question.

http://www.beesandgoats.com/boostfaq/g2icturbo.html
http://www.turbod16.com/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=e182b1e9639f382823f9b6847538a11e
http://www.homemadeturbo.com/forum/index.php?topic=3921.0

and don't talk in PSI!! That means something different for each turbo.....