Many adults in their lives will experience the phenomenon of moving from a tiny apartment in the city to a sprawling property out in the suburbs. At first the change can be exciting. Suddenly you have an overwhelming amount of cabinet and storage space, never mind a whole pantry. These added perks of a home, while exciting, also make you realize that you have to be a lot more prepared.

One of the more interesting functions that my family house has served over the years has been that of a refuge for members of my family as they made the transition from one stage of life to another. My Uncle Allen — my grandmother’s brother — lived there for several months after leaving the Air Force. My uncle Rodney did, too, having served in the Air Force as well. Other family members came and went for a multitude of reasons. More than once the change in circumstances came after a fire had claimed another home. For me, the house was my first home. I lived there for a year before my parents moved first into an apartment, then into the house that I grew up in.