Before we came on our mission, it had been many, many years since we lived in an apartment.

After living in this one for almost nine months, we have been reminded of the benefits. For instance...

• The neighbors play their music loud enough for us to hear without our even asking.
• A baby's room was next to ours so that we could fondly remember the many years we had infants in our home to keep us company at night.
• We feel like we have been invited to several parties by complete strangers who know how to enjoy themselves into the wee hours.
• We get to be a part of other people's lives as we hear them conversing in the hallway which, because of concrete construction in anticipation of earthquakes, is an echo chamber.