Do you have to manually connect to your Wifi?

Each time I open my Laptop am not connected. I have to "Connect"
How many other connections are showing when you connect?
Today there are 10 connections. One of them being mine
iPhone..........Netcom
iiNet..............WiFi - 5G
TPPW4G.......WiFi
Telstra..........Optus
WiFi-4G.........Belong