As many of you know, Bernal Cutlery — a wonderful shop for knife sharpening and kitchenware, sits right below the One Wealth Advisors office. Above us is RareField, a landscaping firm, and just behind, tucked along an inclined walkway, is Incline Gallery, a bright spot for local art.
Until about a year ago, I knew most of our neighbors only by face — quick smiles, polite hellos. Then I started asking the names of the knife-sharpening guys at Bernal Cutlery, the ones I passed every day coming and going downstairs. It didn’t take long before they became a sweet, unexpected highlight of my routine. We trade jokes, comment on the weather, and can tell when the other is having a busy day.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the joy of neighbors. I love the small glimpses we get into the lives of others with overlapping physical spaces but totally different jobs, routines, and life paths. I watch in awe as the owner of Incline Gallery transforms the space, showcasing a new artist’s work in just a few days. Most mornings, I arrive alongside a woman from the landscaping firm upstairs — we’ve fallen into an unspoken rhythm of sharing the front door key.
I also love how neighbors look out for each other in quiet, meaningful ways. Thanks to the guys at Bernal Cutlery, I’ve had my knives sharpened, a hug on a rough day, and a borrowed raincoat for a coffee run. These small, soft connections are what make a day at the office feel more like a community than a workplace.
