Welcome, newcomers to downtown Boston. I’ve heard that 20 percent of the homes in the city turn over on September 1. I don’t know if that figure is right, but after all the hustle and bustle and trash of this past weekend, it seems like everyone is on the move.

Being experienced in this hub of the Hub, I feel compelled to introduce you to your new neighborhood.

Whether you are an empty nester moving back into the city, a student at one of the area’s universities, or a young professional starting your career, you’ll soon notice that one of the best things about downtown Boston is the time you save. You never have to sit in traffic because you’ll learn quickly that it is far easier to walk than to drive. Errands get done in a flash because everything you need is so close. Your living quarters are probably smaller than they would be if you lived in the S-word (suburbs) or out in the boonies. That means it won’t take as long to clean and will be cheaper to furnish. Shoveling snow this winter will be quick because you most likely don’t have a driveway, and the walk in front of your house is only 19 feet long.

I’ve assumed you’re an empty nester, a student or a young professional. But lots of other kinds of people live here too. What about the old professionals? Or the workmen and shopkeepers who live here because it’s ridiculous to commute to work? If you keep your eyes out for them, you’ll soon spot the kids, whooping it up at the playgrounds or getting on and off the school buses that swoop through the neighborhood.

If you tell outsiders where you live, you’ll get the raised eyebrows of those who think you live among rich people. But you’ll soon learn there’s a lot more income diversity than the cliché allows for. And there’s other diversity too. Look around at your neighbors. Lots are quirky and no one cares. In fact, having quirky neighbors is my favorite part of city living. (And who knows, my neighbors may think I’m quirky too.)

Every once in awhile, some newspaper runs a story about a guy who says he wasn’t allowed to move here because he was not of the right social class. That’s balderdash. First of all, although rich people do live here, the Brahmins, who in this city of outmoded class complaints are the group most accused of snobbishness, are mostly gone. The Brahmin who is my personal favorite, as you may have read here before, is my son-in-law, and he’s half Chinese. He’s also nice.

Second, the downtown neighborhoods are some of the few in Boston, and maybe in the rest of the country, that welcome people of any color, religious faith, sexual orientation and style. That’s the real story of these so-called rich neighborhoods.

But people with certain behaviors aren’t welcome, nor will they enjoy living here.

A**holes, for one. We live in close quarters and if you are litigious, nasty, cranky, or anxious about status or your personal space, you’ll probably find living here difficult, since you won’t be liked.

Those who don’t follow the rules about trash will be harrassed. There is no easier way to make your neighbors annoyed at you than to put your trash out at the wrong time and in the wrong way. Trash collects rats, and you don’t want to be the human rat attracting all rodents in the neighborhood. You’ll get notes on your door, or you or your landlord will be fined. Those of us who’ve lived here a long time are happy that the word schadenfreude exists since that’s what we’ll be feeling when we see the ticket on your door.

We also need the word when we see cars towed on street cleaning day. If you’re a person who’s attached to your car or you care overly about its condition, downtown Boston isn’t for you unless you can find monthly parking, preferably in a covered lot. Leave your car there most of the time. On Beacon Hill and in the North End you can drive around for 45 minutes fruitlessly looking for parking. There is no way your car won’t be nicked by a falling branch, a stroller steering around trash on the sidewalk, or just general use. You’ll get towed on street cleaning day and for moving trucks and construction vehicles. About half of those who live in downtown Boston don’t have cars. With Zipcar, rental cars, walking shoes, the T and now Hubway, you don’t need one.

Don’t move here if you plan to be loud. Parties, loud music—even your unhappy barking dog—will cause friction with your neighbors and visits from the police. We know you’ve just graduated, have gotten a job and now have money in your pocket, but if you plan to spend it on lots of alcohol with unruly friends, find a place in the country where no one will hear you.

Sometimes you’re going to find living in the downtown frustrating, difficult and crowded. But as you continue to live here, and especially if you join neighborhood groups and activities, you’ll realize that every time you step out your door onto that uneven sidewalk, you’ll meet someone you know. Every time you sweep that sidewalk, someone will come along and thank you. You’ll soon learn the shopkeepers’ names. Your dry cleaning lady may bake Greek delicacies for you as mine does. You’ll enjoy your walk to work or school. Most of the time at night, you’ll feel safer than if you were walking along a path in Weston.

Those benefits keep us long-time city dwellers here for the long haul. We can’t imagine an easier place to hang our hat.