The weather has been beautiful here in the Pacific Northwest the past few weeks, with sunny skies and temperatures much higher than normal. But much as I would like to be spending this weekend at a lake, at the beach, or hiking a mountain trail, instead I’ll be helping my younger daughter move into her new apartment. (Funny how that embarrassing, old, ugly, unsporty minivan of mine is suddenly such a great vehicle with all that space for all her stuff!)

Along with the stress that comes with any move, there is also the excitement of settling in to a new place, discovering its quirks and hidden benefits and getting to know your way around a new neighborhood. Jenny is going from a large, isolated apartment complex to a unit with just a few other apartments. While the new place doesn’t have a pool and access to a rec center like the old one did, she’ll be moving into a vibrant neighborhood with plenty of attractions she can access by foot.

While her apartment sits on a quiet residential street (essential for someone who works nights and sleeps during the day), she is only a couple of blocks from a branch library, several cafés and coffee shops and a few brew pubs. She can take a cooking class at the local bakery; try yoga or tai chi; access the dry cleaners, a pharmacy and the post office. For a girl who went to school in Chicago, it provides her with all those conveniences in a tidy little neighborhood, one of the things she liked best about city living. Best of all, each Sunday she can stroll just a few blocks from her front door to a great farmers’ market for the freshest produce and locally raised beef, pork and lamb (as well as seasonal seafood).

Yes, she’s excited about her new neighborhood, and I’ll enjoy trying a few of the local restaurants when we come to visit. I think she’s found the perfect environment for a twenty-something who likes a quiet home but a bustling community. What’s on your checklist for the perfect home?

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor