On Saturday I organized a little get-together for everyone that lives in our apartment building. Our building is relatively small – seven units – and is a very pleasant place to live, so tenant turnover tends to be slow. One of our neighbors has always made it a point to be freindly with everyone in the building, if possible, and he’d been away for a good while housesitting.

Thanks to our housesitting neighbor, we’d met several of the other tenants and become friendly – which can be helpful when you’re chasing pot-smoking teenagers away from the dumpster or need your cats watched while you gallivant around the country.

While our neighbor was gone, two apartments rolled over, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to introduce the new tenants to everyone, as well as begin to build community with the other long-term tenants.

Well, as it turned out, most everyone showed up, we all had a great time, and there is talk of another before the end of the summer. Our courtyard is a very beautiful place to spend an afternoon. i had a great time, and it seemed like everyone else did too.