Jon and I live 750 miles away from most of our genetic allies in this world. It’s the furthest we’ve ever lived from “home”. We moved into our current apartment from MidwestAmerica 2 years ago and somehow landed inside the most friendly apartment complex hallway in the world.
Introducing…
Neighbors to the Right: Ian and Camille. Adorable couple with a male cat named Penny Lane. One is a comic book artist. The other invited us to her birthday party last weekend, which was conveniently held in their apartment. Next door. It was like CollegeDormParty meets SophisticatedSnackPlatters. We still felt young and hip drinking PBR, but, unlike dorm parties, no one puked or cried.
Neighbor directly below: Paul. This generous man is caring for Bandit while we’re away this weekend, and possibly loves her more than we do. The comic book artist neighbor, mentioned above, created this depiction of Paul while we were all hanging out at our apartment earlier this year:
Neighbor to the Left: Ariel. A creative entrepreneur, whose funk band Jalopy was a real treat to see perform live on Tuesday night. Paul, mentioned above, was there too. Us neighbors gotsta stick together. It’s the 804CentreStreet way.
I can already see the 2010 holiday “block” party invitations in my mind … it will be beautiful and corny and so ridiculously convenient to travel just 12 feet there and back.
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE WHY IT’S AWESOME THAT WE LIKE THESE PEOPLE:
“… The researchers found that when an individual becomes happy, a friend living within a mile experiences a 25 percent increased chance of becoming happy. A co-resident spouse experiences an 8 percent increased chance … and for next door neighbors, 34 percent.
The New York Times wrote a cuter analysis of the same study: “And a cheery next-door neighbor has more effect on your happiness than your spouse’s mood.”
