I am 3 days (give or take the weekend) from setting up the chlorination system.

So far ordered:
267.40 85MHP5
18.99 Recycled 15 Gallon Plastic Drum
-------
286.39

I did pay an additional 24$ in shipping to get them here quicker

So total cost: 310.39

I plan to bury the tank in the ground to reduced chemical degradation in the summer. I need to rig up some kind of level indicator so that I can check the level without having to look inside.

You could get a drum gauge or if you're handy you can make one from PVC materials.

Im fairly handy -- will probably go the PVC route - telescope a thin pipe inside another with some kind of float on the foot...

That's what I was thinking. You really don't need anything to tell you how many gallons are in there, just something to tell you that you need to add some more to it.

Where'd you purchase the pump and drum from?

Got the pump from: www.lockewell.com
Got the drum from: www.homebrewers.com (Search for Drum)