One of the best qualities of my apartment, or more specifically the neighborhood in which it’s located, is the aromatic pleasure of stepping outside.

Most of the time it smells like delicious home cooked meals, thanks to my neighbor Lupe. She prepares dinner for her family every day, and I’m treated to various scents that I love, including garlic, roast beef, fresh baked cookies, and a host of others.

Late nights are graced with the faint smoke from bonfires on the beach during the summer and the faint smoke from nearby chimneys during the winter. The latter scent reminds me of being at my family’s cabin in Lake Arrowhead when I was younger, and it makes this lonely apartment feel like home.

Right now the air outside is full of the scent of a nearby barbecue, which is especially reassuring because it means that someone out there is positive, despite the cool air and overcast sky, that it isn’t going to rain tonight.