Over the last few weeks, I was able to get everything apart and put back together. I ended up pulling the bearing carrier out using a steering wheel puller modified with long pieces of all-thread (courtesy of a video by Dangar Marine in Australia). No cost there!
Bearings showed signs of sitting in water for awhile (most likely due to leaks from last season I didn't know about), so new ones got ordered.
A couple of other orders got me some Evinrude Triple Guard grease (that's truly some sticky stuff right there!), a gasket set, o-ring/gasket sealer, and of course the water-pump/impeller kit.
Total time for the work (not including waiting for parts) was only really about 3-4 hrs. Not bad for my first time tearing into an outboard! Thanks You-Tube!!!
My problem was that by the time I could get all the parts together and then back in the lower unit, I just didn't have the time to make it back out to the boat to get it put back on. Life gets in the way some times...
Finally, this past Saturday I made the time. Got it back on but when I started it up, it was already in gear. Going into Reverse would put it in neutral. I couldn't push the selector forward at all. I figured I had goofed my install of the shifting rod. A little time spent looking at the shift rod connection and I think I had it figured out. Took the lower unit back off, backed the shift rod out 1/4" and then re-installed. Started her back up and the gears were back where they're supposed to be!
Total cost in parts is just under $175, including the all-thread I needed to buy. I had been quoted between $250-300 for labor alone (I supply the parts) to have someone else do the work for me, so I think I ended up on the right side of this. Plus I gained some knowledge in working on my boat. That's always a plus in my book!